Nikita To Superman

 At first blush this seems like quite the same as all my other Earth 21 D.E.O. stories. But there is one thing here that I have not seen or written in any other story. And believe me, I have looked. I will note that I did not write this just now. I found this by accident just now.

Nikita has explained her relationship with Director J'onn Jo'nzz to various characters. And in the 'Earth' where she serves under a reformed Hank Henshaw in the present moment, she has explained her history with that man a few times. This is the first time she has ever explained what her life at the D.E.O. under Director Henshaw was like to anyone. By that I mean this is the first time under either Director J'onzz or a reformed Hank Henshaw she explains her time under Hank Henshaw as an inmate and a prisoner hardly at all. 

Takes place at the least 4 years after Hank Henshaw died.

Jeremiah rested comfortably in the arms of superman. Clark was holding him loosely but firmly as they moved through the air toward DEO headquarters. “Are you alright?” Clark asked him.

“I never thought I'd be back here again. I'm not sure what to expect.”

“I wish we could take things slow, and look around but that's not going to happen. There's nothing I could say that could sufficiently prepare you.” Kal replied. “I should tell you though, J'onn will probably be the first person you see, he's director now.”

“Okay an alien in charge of the DEO since when?”

“Martians are shape-shifters...he looks human now.”

“That would explain it.”

They touched down on the balcony on the next to highest floor. They clearly were not expected. A young agent, the equivalent in experience to a Air Force lieutenant walked up with his hand on his gun. A dark haired, pale-faced young man standing beside him simply smiled and waved with his left hand. “Superman, good to see you again. Who's your friend?”

“Winn, find director J'onzz have him meet us in the conference room.”

“That won't be necessary.” Came the smooth calm voice that resonated from a man known to most as Director J'onn J'onzz. “I think I...” His gaze met that of Jeremiah Danvers. J'onn did not say anything more for several seconds; neither did anyone else.

“J'onn, is that you?” Jeremiah finally breathed.

“I think we need to go up to the conference room. We have A-Lot to talk about.”

Kal-el, J'onn J'onzz Nikita and Jeremiah Danvers all gathered in the situation room overlooking the main operations center of the building. For a moment no one said anything.

“Someone should say something before even Kal ages.” Nikita prompted.

“Jeremiah...I never thought I'd see you again...I thought you were dead.”

“Apparently you're a little too good at wearing his skin. I let people think I died...so Hank Henshaw wouldn't come after me. I have an apology to make you, Nikita...not sure how to start.”

“For believing I was dead? We're both guilty on that one.”

“For assuming you were better off believing I was dead. For assuming you were out there alone and wandering, better off than you would be with me...for never telling anyone you existed.”

“If you didn't know I was here why come back?” Understanding flickered across her face. “Clark overheard the two of us talking and brought you back here to clear things up. You didn't know where I was until today...and you thought Henshaw was still in charge of this place.”

“I have to admit I'm more than a little confused right now.” J'onn said blankly.

“No less than I am about all this.” Superman quipped.

“I experienced the best and worst of humanity for 11 months the first time I was here.” Nikita said automatically, almost mechanically. “Both of them were with me when I met you, J'onn in the mountains that day. I learned all I needed to know about you to trust you as soon as I saw you shake hands. I knew you were the one picking me up from Clark's house, because you weren't being an ignorant arrogant asshole and still knew Jeremiah's name. I can honestly say I've never met anyone on Earth like Jeremiah before..well not who was from here anyway.” She took a breath, drew herself up to her full height and smiled broadly. “And now that explanations and easily-remedied mistakes are cleared up, can we get to the actual reunion part? I also never thought I'd see you again...I never thought get a chance to talk with you both at the same time...we need to find a patio bar and a place that serves cuba libre's.”

“I'm sorry, what?” Kal-el said blankly.

“Rum and cola with lime juice.” Jeremiah replied quickly.

“Yeah I know what they are...”

J'onn J'onzz stepped up. “Kal, Jeremiah, Nikita and I saved each-other from Hank Henshaw. That's actually how any of us met, including you and her. Until now at least some of us thought the others died that night. THIS meeting of old friends deserves some alcohol.”

“You don't have the authority to do this.” Kal-el told me curtly, after I unlocked the cell.

“Actually, I do. You don't have the authority to stop me.”

“Pardon?”

“Yeah, even I'm confused.” Mon-el of Daxam said mildly.

“Kal, you are a great ally of the DEO and you are our friend. But you are not a DEO agent, not a part of the organization. The first thing J'onn did for me when I came back was to make me an agent of the DEO. And it actually goes beyond that. When it comes to regulation, I am not expected to comply, J'onn would never do that to me. Winn is his closest compatriot, they understand each-other the best. I am his lefftenant; I have his trust. I actually am allowed to make these decisions. I will not let someone get put in prison until after they have been convicted of a crime or an act of violence. Blame the man who's face J'onn is wearing for that one!” I turned back to the man who still stood in his cell.

“I can't let you leave the DEO, but there is no reason on the face of this planet for you to stay here. We're going to my compartments.”

“They know you're an alien?” Mon-el said to me as we walked the corridor.

“I spent 11 months here as an enemy alien. I'm not using an image-inducer- like you I actually look like this. But the people who were in charge before...because I couldn't answer their questions they called me a liar. Because I never told anyone I was an alien they assumed I had a nefarious reason to conceal who and what I am...well with one exception anyway. They have all my files for my question and answer sessions back then. But I see no reason to hide. What Kal thinks of you is because what planet he's from and what planet your from. It has literally NOTHING to do with you not being from Earth. Way back when I lived by the philosophy that if someone trust the real you keep them close...and how can they accept who you really are if you don't tell them? Or more importantly, how can I know who my friends are and who my enemies are if I never speak up, never tell them who I am. The people here are the first people I've met in 35 years who accept me. People who need to know WHO I am and like me AS I am. The what doesn't matter to them. Sorry, I have a tendency to pontificate.”

“Sounds like you haven't had a chance to talk about all this in a while.”

“I live it every day, openly and quietly. It's been a while since I've talked *about my life instead of just living it. Also I'm acting under the assumption that you are fairly newly come to our shores. Any aliens I know have lived here for years.” He looked at me a little lopsidedly. “I'm giving a first impressions of Earth rather than showing you that not all people are alike. I'm better at it.” I typed '4169873' into the keypad of my room and ushered him inside. “I can see you have a question on the tip of your mental tongue. Ask it.”

“J'onn is your boss, you said he was wearing another persons face. Will you explain?”

“Okay you're either nobility or a diplomat and seeing how completely blunt and unrestrained you're being, I'm going with the former. To answer your question, my supervising officer as I refer to him was a man named Hank Henshaw. He took me and another DEO agent to track down a dangerous alien. In his words a 'creature, a monster, the most powerful man in the world, always excepting Kryptonians cause the powers they have on our planet'. Believe me hearing Henshaw call an alien a 'monster' was almost laughably ironic. That alien turned out to be a shape-shifter named J'onn J'onzz. Who upon the death of director Henshaw assumed his identity in order to reform the DEO into what it is today...instead of what it was like when I first got picked up.”

“So when you see something that reminds you of what this place used to be...”

“I actually have the authority to stop it. I'm sensitive when I see it happening again, but I also see it quicker. J'onn knows what 'we' tend to be like and what the DEO will fall into if we don't keep ourselves circumspect...from living out in the world so long...He's 309 years old. Now are you more a red wine person or a flavored vodka person...those are the alcohol's keep around.”

“Flavored vodka...I think.” Mon-el said with a nervous chuckle.

“Vodka's a mild spirit with no flavor of its own most of the time. Mixed with soda or juice it makes a good mixed drink. Wine is milder, sweeter and more like an aperitif...softer on the stomach and the liver.”

“Flavored vodka then.”

“Good choice.”

“Do you mind if I ask,” Mon-el said as Nikita handed him a 'lime-vodka-soda' “What planet are you from?”

“I'm a Xavallen. My planet exists basically 50 miles past nowhere but not all of us are planet-bound. I was actually a few years shy of being a mature-independent adult when I decided to see what else was out there...and eventually landed on Earth. There is a purpose to that designation.” Mon-el looked up, surprised. “My people become mature individuals, reasonable thinkers, respected members of our community eight years before actually becoming legal adults, free of our parents wishes and worldviews. When I say 'I wanted to see what else was out there', what I mean is...”

“You ran away from home.”

Henry Allen gave up Custody of Barry when the kid was 12; Joe West legally adopted him.

The revers Flash killed Henry AND Nora Allen that night. Joe has been Barry's father ever since. During Zoom's invasion Joe West is killed in action.

Caitlyn and Barry dated for 11 months before asking Joe's blessing & permission. They know he has pancreatic cancer, not how bad it is. Joe's last words are to Harrison Wells: take care of our boy. Harry is understandably nervous when Barry asks him to stand beside him as father-of-the-bride. When the day comes Barry reassures him. “Joe can see me (points upward) and you're here with me. Oliver is Barry's Best man and his and Caitlin's wedding. Harrison stands as father of the groom. For the first time in almost two years STANDS up.

Eddie and Iris have 3 children together: Jason, Elias and Sarah.

Barry and Caitlyn will have a total of four children: Harry, Gabe, Kalvan (spelled that way because it is KAL-Van) and with Oliver's enthusiastic permission: Thea.