Inspired by my own Heavenly Journeys story and next on my list of stories to write out. This is the one story I'm writing that isn't Superhero or alien based.
Nasir: Why would you do that?
Nicholas: I'm used to people misjudging me. I've learned to chose my battles.
Nassir: No I mean, why would you call me your friend?
Nicolas: (caught off guard) Be-cause I consider you my friend. Seriously which of us is not understanding which of us right now?
Earth 21: Winn schott with his girlfriend Lena Luthor visits his friend Nikita on what turns out to be the 3rd anniversary of her surrogate father's death. She doesn't want a big gathering funeral, but a wake was described to her as 'a big party, designed to give the departed a jolly send off. Which didn't sound right to her either. They decide to have an Irish wake. Which Lena describes as away to memorialize the dead and celebrate life at the same time. 3 glasses of Irish Whiskey are raised in a toast and Nikita says in her native tongue, which sounds like Galic: A Chairde, a Theaghlaigh, a Dhia, cibé duine é sin. To Friends, to Family, to God, whoever that may be.
Nikita, an officer at the department of extra-normal operations detects a ship making a flyby and searches her own book-marked memories to identify the design.
-- Winn Schott is looking at her mesmerized. --
Nikita: We are about to have a flyby from some friendly visitors. Still not sure if they have any particular interest in us.
J'onn Jo'nzz: Who exactly are they?
Nikita: Phorians. (smiles distracted) I'm sorry the similarity between 'Phorian' and 'Euphorian' always makes me smile.
Winn Schott: And why is that exactly?
-He thinks she's referring to the emotion of euphoria and mentally connects 'phorian' to 'phosphoros'
Nikita: The Euphorians are cousins to my own race. Phorians are not.
Winn Schott: Good reason.
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. Mon-el is not actually Kryptonian. He's from Daxam, a planet in the same system.
“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 a 'just so we're clear' conversation. I'd actually like it if Mon-el were to stay.
"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.”
“I'm staying. If for no other reason than to learn where you two stand with each-other.”
“Why don't you hate me?” Henshaw stated point-blank.
“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 fo peace but of restraint, self awareness and impeccable composure and forbearance. I don't see that changing. A bit 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!”
This is the best version so far I have found for what, if it was real, would be one of thier favorite moments or memories. There is only minor differences in wording and pacing in all the copies I have of my Earth-9 or Earth 21 stories. and I have so many copies of the exact same stories I was swimming in them. I never got rid of any of them in case any were different or superior somehow. I just found one that actually says something in a sharper, that is more clear and distinct way. And just gives a different tone or attitude to a memory. Elana is a half human and one-have of an entity called FIRESTORM. Martin Stein is her nuclear mate.
"But from what you've told me your father was human. Though he must have died." I said patiently.
“That's where the word and thought of being a freak comes in.” Elana said coldly. “That I am half-human, not other than human.”
“Your ire seems self-directed.” Martin observed.
“It is. I can't get around it. It freaking sucks. It doesn't usually bother me this much but it still sucks.”
I looked at Martin and he glanced back at me. Neither of us understood her. The question was which of us would ask for clarification.
“Forgive me for being dense but why is being a 'half-breed' less than normal?” I asked eventually.
“There are only a small number of species my people are allowed to join with. My mother was considered a rebel and anarchist anyway but was disavowed for lack of another word because she came here to find a mate. Sounds separatist and elitist right? She thought so too. Her drive to challenge the preconceptions and assumptions of our culture made breaking this particular practice, breaking away from our culture to pursue love on equal grounds the most natural thing in the world for her. I was one year old when she learned the truth. It had nothing to do with racism. Our genetic make-up, Enkaren genetic make-up is such that there are only a handful of species we can procreate with and produce a healthy child...or a child at all. It's a matter of the organs being in the wrong places and serving different functions than they 'should'. Contradictory building blocks and 'instructional data'. Most of the time the offspring would die a horrible death by the age of five. Human DNA is relatively compatible to ours. Either that of far more resilient than most races in our 'neck of the woods'. " Elana ran her hand down her shoulder, placed her palm flat over her heart, stomach and then around her throat, as if pressing on her windpipe. she tapped her knee and her collarbone and her rib cage. "With me, everything works. Nothing works well as it should. Enkarens have no issue with humans and I have would have no problem being human. Being half-human hurts.”
“And yet if you were entirely Enkaren, we would have kept you in that cell.” I whispered.
“And your biological humanity allowed you to save my life...every day since we met.” Martin said regret and remorse filling his voice. “No wonder you didn't want to talk about this!”
"Jeremiah. Hank Henshaw is a much better man than you would have known. I can say that much with certainty." I looked at her, genuinely surprised.
"You've kept in contact all these years?"
"Well no, but Xavallens don't tend to lie without a damn good reason and I cannot think of a reason Nikita would have to back him up unless she actually agreed with him."
I am fairly certain my face went white.
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