J'onn Restores Faith

  “Jeremiah Danvers, is a good man.” The deep voice of J'onn Jo'nzz put forth, “Yes, he was an agent of the DEO under Henshaw's command But that part of his life is gone now. By his own choice. Because of which he is free to be whoever he chooses to be.”

Jeremiah Danvers looked embarrassed at the praise but did not raise his voice in excitement or passion as he explained. “Hank Henshaw required me to serve under him. I did, faithfully.. Having someone like me working at the organization, under his observation made sense... I was a scientist who already knew about aliens because of my adopted son. When Hank made a mistake he admitted it...as he demonstrated when he legally discharged Elana from our care, as though she was a mental patient with a clean bill of health. That's what literally happened: we presented her documents that she was in a psych ward for observation and had been released. Henshaw and I came looking for an 'extremely dangerous alien' we found J'onn instead...”

“Why did you think I was so dangerous?” J'onn said mildly. Turning slightly to face Jeremiah more directly he continued. “I've actually never understood that. You spoke to me as a warrior, and somehow understood that I consider -- would see you as a threat if not an enemy. How did you know what to expect?”

“The same reason I now know you are a Green Martian.” Elana interjected. “You weren't tapping an earpiece earlier Jeremiah, you were tapping the side of your head. Your friend and host is a telepath. He can hear, because his psychic abilities allow him to 'listen in'. But you are obviously not Naltorian or Euphorian. Therefore, you are a Martian. And now I know I was wrong about you. My understanding of you, while not without basis, was mistaken. My fear of you was misplaced. I want to apologize.”

“How could you even know this? More to the point, why do you see it now, if you couldn't before?”

“If you had been as I took you for, you would never have tolerated Jeremiah by your side.” Elana replied. She looked down uncertainly and stepped closer to Martin Stein. Indicating J'onn she began. “The closest analogy I have is if Neander-tals and Kromaggen men evolved simultaneously not sequentially, and at least one of them hated the others guts. While she was alive my mom taught me what she would have learned in primary school at home. That's how I know so much about other planets, other anatomy and how races so vastly different from each other tend to approach the world..”

“Makes sense.” Jeremiah muttered.

“I can now make a few assumptions of what happened when the two of you met. Director Henshaw led a team to apprehend and detain, if not eliminate a hostile alien, did he not? You were on that team but somehow convinced your enemy to show mercy. Henshaw went back with better understanding of aliens and a respect for ones enemies. That much at least is established back home. He came prepared to fight a formidable and intractable opponent? Which is how he could earn Your respect J'onn, or you could earn his; as enemies who understand each-other. Both of you were warriors and spoke with the same understanding. Both of you were strong, with a warrior mentality. Henshaw had come into the situation with the same understanding...understandable misunderstanding I did. It was a 'mere facts and basic knowledge' sort of thing.” She rubbed the side of her head and sat cross-legged where she had stood. “The databases at the DEO would have told them what a Martian was capable of, and that they were fierce warriors. But not that TWO races of Martians existed. I didn't know you were Deimos.”

“To continue the metaphor,” Martin said uncertainly. “You knew Neanderthals and Kromaggen men both existed, but did not know how to tell them apart?”

“Even if I had..” She began sharply. “..how he treated the two of us would not tell me that. I was an alien and you were something more than human. Even Phobos would have asked questions first, would have been curious and tolerated us to a point. Jeremiah is nothing but human. They treat humans as...” She hesitated. “Most races not their own, not as clearly savage warriors are insects to them. If J'onn had been what I took him for, a pure-blooded human would sooner be in chains or on a dissection table than standing next to him unarmed and at peace.”

“Is that true?” Jeremiah asked of the green skinned alien, who nodded solemnly.

“What she refers to as Phobos and Deimos are White and Green Martians. She names us for the two brothers whose rivalry and bloodshed was such that we divided, into what we are like now. Clearly she's never actually met either of us or knowing as she does that they would never chose to look like me...any sooner than I would take their skin...”

“Actually, I think I am responsible for her lack of insight on the subject.” Martin said reproachfully. “I only recently learned she was an alien and was, dejected and insanely frustrated. So much so I would have turned my back on her if I could. But I literally, biologically need her around. And I...hadn't heard any thing about the history we've been talking about in this room. She needed me to understand...was extremely preoccupied with whether or not I could truly understand her. I owe you an apology Elana.” Martin knelt in front of his friend. “I had no idea what you must have been though. You weren't hiding your heritage, you were hiding your trauma: Every thing that's happened because you were different. I had no right to be angry with you for keeping a secret. You literally saved a stranger's life-" He turned to the others "--my own and continue to do so every day we are together and yet you take zero credit for it. You ARE amazing. If more humans were like you... this world would be a happier place. ”

Elana reached up and embraced her charge. In that moment and with this revelation, the bond of friendship was not broken, but deepened. I smiled, a little sadly. A thought occurred to me. “I hate to interrupt, but there is something I still do not understand. Something I've been wondering about since you, Eloise first told me you're half-human.”

“Eloise was my name at birth.” She said, unprompted. “When my mom died I took her birth name as my own. It will be my name until I die. If I have a daughter I will name her one thing and she will take the name 'Eloise' as her own upon my death.”

“Matra-lineal?” Marin guessed.

“Not quite. The same would be true of a husband who had a son. If I'd had a brother, he would have a different name now than when he'd been born, but would not have received it until Henry had died. It's our custom and how we remember ourselves...where we come from. And we do mean ANY of us. There is no 'maiden name' or 'father's surname' because neither side of the family takes precedence.”

“But your father was a human. And from what you just said, died without having a son.”

“That's where the word and thought of being a freak comes in.” Elana said coldly. “That I am half-human, not that I am 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 but it still sucks.”

I looked at Martin who glanced back at me. Clearly neither of us understood this part. The only uncertainty was which of us would ask for clarification.

Earth-9:

Elana is the other half of Firestorm. She convinces 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. 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 served under Henshaw 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. 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 face of the planet. I need to see if it's true, if she believes he has changed or is simply following orders, and paying along. If she is with him willingly, without reserve, I will have all the closure I need. I can say goodbye and move on with my life.”

"You loved this woman." J'onn 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 knwoing if she's alright is the one regret I've had the entire time I've stayed here."

“Jeremiah. You don't need to stay with me.” The human scientist started. J'onn looked at his friend a moment before continuing. “I'll miss you sure but I wouldn't keep you here against your will.”

“I swore I would stand with you J'onn. I swore never to leave your side. From what I understand that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty...and 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. Just let me say a word to Sarrin.".