Something was missing. Like literally. This doesn't' exist in any copy of my D.E.O. Stories. But it is one of the most important moments or scenes in the whole narrative. Jeremiah is narrating. They are meeting J'onn for the first time.
She looked at me and instantly found her calm. “My being an empath is what makes me a good field asset. Not that I'm familiar with the patterns, tendencies and worldviews of a lot of alien races. But that I can sense the inclinations and intentions of the individual people we meet.” Gesturing to the man we'd practically stumbled upon, she continued. “What he THINKS of us I could not tell you if I wanted, short of literally asking him of course. But I can tell that he is by his very nature far more of a protector than an assassin. We are safe with him.”
“You sound as if this surprises you?” He said in a strange voice.
“As pleased as I am to learn those like you exist; I must admit to an extremely presumptive ignorance on the subject. Henshaw said you were a Martian. The only Martian I ever me did not look or act at all like yourself. “
“He must have been a White. Their aggression is__nearly unmatched in the galaxies.”
“That tracks.” I said quickly. “For the past 3 years I've been Nikita's...Guardian I guess is the best word for it. There's not much she..”
“We should get out of here.” Nikita interrupted. The stranger and I both looked at her. “There was a second...unit close behind us. Meant more to lend support than anything directly to do with our__ I'm sorry but the word fits__ quarry. We should find some deeper cover and once we leave this Kreec-ta behind we can leave together or go our separate ways. Agreed?”
“Most readily.” The alien replied.
“Unreservedly.” I answered. Then I saw something that I must admit brought a smile to my face: The stranger knocked Hank completely unconscious. But didn't hurt him. “By the way, Nikita...do I even want to know what you just called him?”
Nikita smiled faintly at me. “A very serious word that interprets as 'ignorant, arrogant asshole. And is not a word I would use very often.”
Twenty minutes later J'onn Jo'nzz sat about 12 feet away from a small campfire. I sat close to him on his left. I couldn't take my eyes off the man. Nikita lay on her stomach, legs straight out behind her, her cheek on the grass. “This alien is more human than most people I know.”
“I cannot disagree with that thought. Strangely enough. Listen, I know you are in no danger from each-other. It's one of the clearest things I have ever had any 'sense' about. But I still feel something dangling over us. What DO any of us intend to do tomorrow?”
“I'd go back home. Couldn't stay for long. But I'd want to make certain Kara and the rest were safe.” I realized J'onn would have no idea who they were and took out their photo. “Eliza is my wife. This one, Alex is my oldest child. She is stubborn, but strong. My youngest Kara is...why I'm out here. She is like Nikita in a way – From the stars.”
“What planet ARE you from?” J'onn said suddenly. Nikita never got the chance to answer.
I finally found the one moment that was missing from my story about Nikita standing up to J'onn like a mouse to a lion. I'm not sure I ever even typed up this scene and was having serious trouble figuring out how to say it. I think I finally found it. A single moment in the scene anyway.
I finally found the moment that was missing from my story about Nikita standing up to J'onn like a mouse to a lion. I'm not sure I ever typed this scene and was having serious trouble even starting on writing it. I think I finally found a single moment in the scene.
Me'gann Mor'zz, a White Martian asks Nikita why she would defy J'onn who is not only her direct superior officer but someone she so clearly respects, on her behalf. "Because this is the second time history has repeated itself and I didn't know what else to do." Taking a breath, without looking at Me'gann, Nikita explains. "J'onn is wearing the face of his predecessor, a man I served under before him. And that is an epic misnomer. He took the identify of a man named Hank Henshaw. It is disheartening to say the least when J'onn lives up to that man's face. But slightly more importantly you are my guest and this is my home!"
Nikita turns slowly to face Me'gann. "Knowing what I know about the history of your races, if he'd found you at a restaurant or something and tried to arrest you, that is to take you back to the D.E.O I wouldn't have objected, not publicly. I would have made my case to give you a fair hearing when we were at the D.E.O. Just as I did when the former prince of Daxam was thrown in a cell for a crime he literally couldn't have committed. Mon'el was believed to be guilty and the hero who arrested him assumed the worst of him just because he was from Daxam, didn't even bother to ask his name. Yeah that actually happened, and that was the first time it felt like Hank was still running things. God I don't even know why I call him that! Given that he and I did not exactly get along and what he originally was to me, I should call that asshole by his surname, not his individual one. I should refer to him as 'Henshaw'. J'onn cannot force me not to be true to myself, no one can and J'onn would be a fool to knowingly try it. He's known me for six years and doesn't realize that, whatever else is going on, I know you well enough to know that I can trust you. And no one with a brain in thier skull insults a friend of mine IN my house. Not even my closest friends can get away with that and nothing can force me to permit it."
The entire scene titled Dining on Ashes is J'onn telling Superman that his biggest regret from this day isn't that Nikita compared him to Henshaw, but that she was actually right to do so. This one moment changes everyone's mind and opens everyone's eyes. Though it takes nearly losing Nikita to Queen Rhea months later for J'onn to face Nikita about it. Now Nikita is Mon'el's fiancé and Queen Rhea, Mon-el's mother tries to flat out kill her in order to reclaim her son. Which as you might imagine does not sit well with J'onn, Mon'el, Superman, Martin Stein or Me'gann Mor'zz.
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