A-9 Rock

 “Sajente?” The woman said, looking at me. I did not know how to respond. “Can you hear me?” she inquired gently.

“Yes I can. I don't think they can.” I indicated Henshaw and Winn.

She looked at them with a very strong expression. “Colo-sorta ter-an-ali.”

There was one word I thought I recognized. “Terra...Terran. Yes, they're humans.”

“Myan Soto Nokara Saki.” She continued.

“I'm sorry, I don't understand.” I confessed. The woman, whoever she was, looked at me constantly, as if she wasn't sure what to make of me.

“I take it you're not from around here.” Hank entered the conversation for the first time.

“You take it...correctly...Sajen.” the woman said slowly.

Hank's eyes snapped inward. “That's what Nikita calls me.” He and the woman spent a few moments just staring into each-other's eyes. “I take it you are not Xavallen.” Hank rubbed his fingers across his own temples to indicate the patches of blue scales the woman had. Scales that were missing on Nikita's own face. The woman's expression did not change. “And you are obviously not Enkaren.” He continued cautiously. “So what are you?”

The woman gave a look of thorough surprise, but answered almost instantly. “My name is Mir-an I'm Atraxi. And you are not living down to your reputation Director Henshaw.”

“Nikita has...educated me on how expansive and relative the word 'alien' truly is.”

“So, did she look more or less human than I?”

“I am seriously in need of an explanation.” I said coarsely.

“All three of our races speak the same language. At one time we were the same race. Did Nikita look more human than myself, which would make her Xavallen, or less human than myself which would make her Enkaren.”

“More human.” Hank replied easily.

“What happened?” Winn asked. It was the first time in my memory he directly addressed anyone in D.E.O care without first asking Hank for the go-ahead.

“Did your friend Nikita not tell you this?” Sarrin replied.

“Her parents...didn't teach her her people's history.” Hank explained reluctantly.

“Forgive me, but introductions should come first.”

“Of course, that they should.” I said hurriedly. “My name is...well people on this planet generally just call em Superman. I suppose you would call me 'Kal-El'.”

“A son of the house of El. That explains a lot.”

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 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 table and an equally short bookshelf stood to one side. “I hope you'll be comfortable here. I have to go see a friend. There's more of us here by the way.”

“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 disquieted at the courtesy. "I am waiting for you to ask the obvious question."

"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. I didn't expect to be a hostage. I wasn't sure who or what to expect.” 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?”

“It means something between 'city in the clouds' and 'near to God.” J'onn said with pride.

Henshaw Teaches and Learns All at Once

“Please. Whatever I have done to make an enemy of your person, it's between us.”

“Are you asking me for something Henshaw?” The alien commander said brusquely.

“Whatever I have done, leave her alone. There is nothing she could have done to deserve this. On that I would stake my life. I know enough to know what's coming, and I accept it. All I ask is that you do not make her suffer for who I was back then.”

“I must say, this is unanticipated. You showing concern for another human life.”

“You have no reason to hurt her, other than to force my cooperation. I imagine she is only here at all because you knew I would do anything to keep her safe.”

“More or less.” A woman's voice said from somewhere nearby.

“If this is because of something I've done, to other aliens, I implore you, do not make her suffer for it. She had no choice, she was simply following my orders. If you want to punish me for what I've done, let's DO that. Just please, don't make her watch.”

“Are you, responsible for her somehow?”

“In so far as I'm the reason her father is dead yes!” Hank effused. “Her father, the closest thing she's known to a father served under my command. And died saving my life. And yet every single day for 2 years she's served with honor and kept me sane. As a fellow solider I expect you can understand that.”

“To other aliens?” The man prompted, his face completely impassive.

“He means me.” Nikita said stubbornly. “I look as human as you do but I'm no more human than you are. Luckily for all I'm not Atraxi or we'd have a seriously worse problem on our hands.”

“Okay, what does that mean?”

“Gama Zod jirtaa?” Nikita stated firmly.

“I am one of his people but I am not necessarily on his side.” The soldier replied.

“How may I address you then?” Nikita continued. The solider made no reply. “Among my people, not to introduce yourself is considered extremely rude, even among enemies. My name is Nikita, I'm Xavallen. And you?”

“My name is Lieutenant Non of Krypton.”

“And you're here looking for Kal-El.”

“Why do you say that?” Non replied with interest.

“Because I know someone who wears the symbol of the house of El on their chest. And years ago I knew someone who...” Nikita took the look from Hank's eyes and fell silent.

“Go on.”

“That was before anything that matters. I will say I knew he was Kryptonian when I first met him. I recognize the name of your planet...if very little else.” She finished in a biting tone.

“We are not here looking for Kal-El. But Kara Zor-El.” A woman said, stepping into the light. She had long brown hair that she wore loose down her shoulders. She was dressed in the same one piece black suit as Lieutenant Non. A geometric shape was outlined in blue over her left breast. “And you are the first we have encountered that could lead us to her.”

“Kara Zor-El.” Hank said thoughtfully. “Yes, a familiar name. But not one you'll be able to pry out of me.”

“Oh I think you'll be surprised about that. We have...other aliens that can help.”

“What is your interest in the house of El?” Nikita insisted.

“That is not how this works. You my friend are protected. Your taskmaster is not.”

“He is my commanding officer he is NOT my 'master'!” Nikita said with surprising feeling.

“It makes no difference.” Lieutenant Non barked.

“Ummata kootiif ni ta'a. Kana malees yoo garaagarummaa tokkollee hin fidne maaliif balleessuuf of dhiphisna?” Nikita rattled off.

“Hey, Nikita! Even I don't understand you.”

“The difference he dismisses does matter to me. And it says a lot about him if he dismisses it so completely. It literally takes nothing to respect a person's pronouns...and a prisoners native language while you are chipping away at the block that is Director Henshaw's mind.”

“We have no issue with Nikita. And no use for her other than to prove to the humans we are sincere in our intentions. We will show her the respect we would show any innocent bystander.”

Nikita straightened her back and pushed up on the armrest of her chair. “General, I thank you.”

Six hours later hank Henshaw looked down, tired but unharmed.

“I don't understand.” The gray alien said, clearly sincerely puzzled. “I can't read his mind.”

“I thought that's what your race was famous for.”

“Maybe he's playing you for a fool Non. It wouldn't be that hard to do.”

“I would never do that to you.” the alien said hurriedly.

“Or maybe you have no direct knowledge useful to us.” Non replied snidely.

“No, I can't read his mind...at all. You humans must have found some way to block us.”

“Human ingenuity is as vast as the spirit of hope. The only difference is ingenuity can be used destructively.” Hank Henshaw said blithely.

“I see your point there.” Non admitted.

“We should ask the Xavallen, Nikita.”

“You said she was protected from interrogation.”

“Which is why I will simply ASK her. She clearly recognized her name. And she might tell me just to spare this human more pain.”

“Kara. She recognized the name KARA.” Hank Henshaw corrected from his seat.

“The two of you are truly inseparable.”

“The implication being we would literally do anything to spare each-other any kind of pain. While that's true, that's not what's going on. I just don't want her interrogated for information she doesn't actually have. Jeremiah, the agent that died under my command had two daughters. One of whom was...'similarly foreign to this planet'. Their names were...are...Alex and Kara.”

“You are taking a great risk telling me this.” General Astra informed him.

“I don't believe so. You don't wish her harm. Rather you want to see her again. I can tell.”

“But your usefulness to me might just have come to a very sudden end.” Astra said, putting her hand on Hank's shoulder.

“You hurt me, you'll tick off another member of the house of El.”

“And how do you figure THAT.”

“Because J'onn and I are allies.” Superman said literally racing into the room. “And I am telling you to let him go, now.”

“Kal-El, son of Jor-El.” Lieutenant Non said formally.

“Yes, I don't believe I caught your name?”

“My name is Lieutenant Non, this is my wife, General Astra.”

“Kryptonians?” Superman queried, looking at J'onn rather than his captors.

“Kryptonians extremely interested in the house of El; more specifically Kara Zor-El.”

“What do you want with Kara?”

“I want you to tell her that her aunt Astra is here looking for her. And I want to know why you'd ally yourself with someone who hates us so much.”

“I don't understand. What could you have against a gr...”

“Apparently you ARE who you pretend to be Superman.”

“General Astra, Hank Henshaw has been dead for almost four years. Among humans J'onn is known for being who and what he is. Who he is is an alien who works to protect everyone, human and alien alike. More than that he my friend and my captain. I demand that you release him at once.”

“Ba-shaa'am. Ac'andra.” J'onn Jo'nzz offered. It was 'Good morning' in the Martian tongue.

“Release him.” General Astra ordered.

“But general...” Non began.

“We did not come here to start a war with the humans, much less with our own family. Kal-El, take him and go.”

“What about Nikita?” J'onn asked standing up, rubbing his wrist.

“Nikita will stay, she is safe. If I'm reading the situation correctly, not only does she know the answers we seek, but she will be happy to provide them.

Superman started to protest. J'onn pushed him back. “That wasn't a threat Kal-El. Nikita is safe with them, and no violence will be needed in order to find answers. That was his reading of the situation. And Non reads the situation correctly....I should know.”

“Remind me to ask again about how you two met.” Superman said blithely.

Hank Henshaw: A Living Messenger

“Non please. Whatever I have done to make an enemy of your person, punish me not her!”

“You have done nothing to me Henshaw. This is for those aliens you've despised and tortured all these years.”

“Damn it Nikita IS an alien! She's Xavallen. She's also the most peaceful person I know. Whatever you want from me, I implore you, don't make her suffer any more. There's nothing she could have done to deserve this. On that I woulds take my life.”

“I admit I did not anticipate this. You showing concern for another human life.”

“If she's here, it's because you knew that she was under my command. It follows you would know that I feel responsible for her.” Hank said with a slightly tensed jaw.

“More or less Director.”

“You want to punish me, fine. Let's DO that. Just please don't make her watch.”

Non looked like someone had slammed his face with an Nth metal 2x4. “This goes above duty to a friend Henshaw. Why are you being so human all of a sudden? Why completely selfless for her?”

“Her father...the closest thing to a father she has known on this Earth is dead because of me. When he died I swore I would not fail him twice by letting any harm come to her. It's been a little over three years since that day. And she has never failed to keep me safe and to keep me sane. If you count yourself superior to us, prove it to me. Keep her safe.”

“Her father served under your command?” The woman's voice said from nowhere.

“Jeremiah freed me from the D.E.O.” Nikita said wearily. “He served under Hank for almost 6 years without once disobeying orders...that I knew of. But he could see I didn't belong there, couldn't turn away. He was the closest to what a father should be that I have ever known.”

“And I expect that as a fellow solider, you can appreciate my duty, Non.”

“That, I can do.” He waved his hand to a pale, mottle-skinned alien with 3 obsidian eyes. “Take that one to crew quarters. And make sure the walls are sound proof.” The alien scientist half led, half carried Nikita out of the room. “Do not ask further favors. You will receive none.”

“I understand. I shall not. Unless by some miracle you get me to plead for mercy.”

“That would be a miraculous sight indeed.” Non replied simply. An icon on Non's control board lit up. “That is taken care of. And now, to the business at hand.” He pressed a button on his control console and a metal restraint wrapped itself around hank's neck.

“Non__Thank you.” Hank sighed heavily. “Now let's get down to it.”

“I can almost promise that I will hear you scream before you sit up from this chair.”

“I hope you are not suffering from what we humans call 'mission creep'. That would be disappointing.” Non adjusted a dial and Hank seized briefly.

“Indeed. I suggest you consider what this is going to be like for you.”

“We are here to get Kara back and find out what happened when they landed. NOT to wage war with the humans nor for your personal satisfaction, Non.”

“That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to take some satisfaction in making him talk.”

“Why is Nikita protected?” Hank asked of his inquisitors.

“I'm sorry?” Non replied briskly.

“I look after her because I owe her a debt. You treat her as if she's politically immune to interrogation. I was just wondering why.”

“She is.” Non answered begrudgingly. “There are very few powers in the galaxies that could use her discomfort to force the truth out of another persons lips. If I had something against her as an individual I could do what I pleased to obtain satisfaction.”

“Xavallen. She wasn't just telling me she was different from Enkarens.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I once had an Enkaren woman in my charge. Half-Enkaren actually, her name was Elana. She was from Earth and no intentional threat to anyone so we released her from custody. Nikita was... a lot less forth-coming. There was no torture but I could not understand the... significance of a lot of things she said. I didn't know what Xavallens were. She didn't seem to know either, which I thought was really odd if she remembered her home planet at all.”

“Xavallens don't have a home-world.” Astra shot. “Not one that is their own anyway. They are the majority population on exactly zero planets in the 16 galaxies.”

“So Nikita's home-world...” Hank began.

“Is Earth her home or is this other place?”

“She speaks of Earth as her home.” Hank replied, uncertainly.

“Then say 'planet of origin'. It matters to her people as well as Enkarens.”

“She ran away from home, her planet of origin, when she was almost an adult. She's lived on Earth for more than 40 years. And Xavallens are...protected...in the galaxies?”

“For 16 of the 23 major powers in the galaxies Xavallens are considered innocents that do not keep secrets and should not be mistreated. If I had something against her, personally. If I felt she had wronged me, we could settle it as individuals. But to cause her pain, because of another individuals transgressions...is frowned upon to say the least.”

“And that's why she let me interrogate her. Why she never fought back, or even resisted. Because it involved her as an individual. She could sense I simply wanted answers.”

“You're getting quite an education HANK.” Lieutenant Non said shortly.

“It's been an interesting 4 years.” Astra leaned in. “Jeremiah. The man who died under my command. There is more to it than that. He died saving my life. Nikita says he 'gave his life to save mine'. I never knew the kind of man he was... until died protecting me, from a Martian solider. At that point I made it my mission not to misjudge anybody quite as badly as I did Jeremiah Danvers. And to listen to Nikita when she told me who to be on-guard around and who to deal respectfully with. And which alien races were like her own, happy and normal by human standards.”

“A fellow solider died saving your life. That would shift one's perspective.”

Reading his mind works in one version not the other because in the first version 'Henshaw' is really J'onn Jo'nzz. In my Earth 21 story - as in the show Supergirl- the Green Martian J'onn Jo'nzz assumed the identity of Hank Henshaw in order to reform the D.E.O.

In Earth-9 (as I call my two stories) Hank Henshaw was never as xenophobic or angry as he is typically portrayed. And he changed for the even better after Jeremiah's Sacrifice.