Garden of Hope

“Stop, please.” The alien raised his fist, relenting from his assault. “Is this how you prove your superiority? Attacking a defenseless solider?”

“You defend him, why? Who is he to you?”

“He is my commanding officer. I make no excuses for his intentions nor my own actions. He's no longer any threat to you, leave him alone. We have rules even in plain war, you don't kick a man when he's down. If for no other reason than to prove you're better than us...better than him...leave him be.” My words must have made an impact because he stepped away from us. 'You are a strange one, whoever you are.' I heard the man say. Although I'm not entirely sure he said it.

“I'd be happy to never see his like again. But I cannot trust that you would leave me alone. I cannot simply let you go.”

“You don't want him anywhere near you. I understand. I hope that...Do you have the same problem with me?”

The stranger stepped closer to me, almost like he was taking my measure. Trying to determine what he thought of me and what kind of person I was. I tried to do the same and found myself rather drawn to the man. I saw something almost noble about him. He was a solider and an experienced one at that. He had seen enough battle to value life. After a few moments he stepped back. “You are better than him.”

“He has a beacon in his vest pocket. An emergency signal for extraction. They'll come for him. We'll be safe.”

“I honestly do not understand what you are trying to say.”

“I'm asking that you let Hank go home; I'll stay.”

“You would give up your freedom for this man's life?”

“For his freedom and his life, yes.”

He looked at me with the strangest expression I have ever seen. He seemed mystified any human would so willingly make that sacrifice. I realized he was surprised that any human would surrender so completely, so damn near unconditionally to an alien, and mean it. “I suppose I am suggesting almost a prisoner exchange. Hank is a solider, he'll understand. Sir, I swear to you on anything that would matter, if you will not only let him Live but let him Go, you can take me. I will not leave and I will not fight. I take my oath on it.”

“There is nothing I like better than an honorable man.” He knelt down and touched the side of Hank's face with the back of his hand. Henshaw's eyes closed and he seemed to drift off to sleep. “Send a signal for him to be retrieved, then leave your radio and come with me. Or better, give me your radio.” I handed it to him and was not entirely surprised to hear Hank's voice come out of the man's mouth. “This is commander Hank Henshaw requesting immediate extraction.” There was silence on the other end. I repeat this is – say 'Director' – this is Director Hank Henshaw requesting extraction.”

“Acknowledged director we're 7 minutes out.”

“So, what happens now?”

“There's a stop along the road, an old hiding place nearby, we'll head there.”

“Wait, please...we should at least learn each-others names.”

“Yes, in fact that should have come first. Not to introduce yourself is considered extremely rude even among enemies....Which we are no longer enemies.”

I pointed to my heart with both hands. “I'm Jeremiah Danvers.” I extended my hand.

He looked at it like he'd never seen anything like it before in his life. Then extended his right hand. “I am...J'onn Jo'nzz.”

We walked for a couple of hours, headed southeast near as I could tell. Eventually we came to what might have been an old schoolhouse. He waved me inside. There was a coffee table, a floor lamp and a makeshift mattress propped up on cinder blocks. “I sincerely hope you'll be comfortable here. There's a lavatory over the breezeway. I have a friend I must visit before sundown.”

“Thank you.” I said in a rush.

“ I should be thanking you.” And left without another word.

The next morning he came back. I stood the instant he walked into the room. He looked thoroughly uncomfortable. “I do not know...I don't intend...” He stammered.

I realized he had misinterpreted my overture. “I'm sorry. I stood at attention every time Hank walked into the room. Old habits really must die hard.”

“A sign of respect or fear?”

“Respect, for his authority and position. He was my superior offic... I do not fear you. Of that you may be assured.”

“Then please, no unneeded courtesy or ceremony. It comes off as pretense.”

“Take your own advice.”

He actually smiled at me. But didn't say anything else. I realized the ball was still in my court. “Do I intimidate You?” I asked him.

“Confuse me, yes. I can tell there is more to you than most. You are, as Sarrin would no doubt say, 'a glorious exception'.”

“You mean I'm better than most humans you know?”

“Exactly that. Shall we have an exchange of truths?”

“I'm game.”

“Tell me why you are so unshaken by me.”

“I'm rather familiar with at least one very cool alien. Two if you count my adopted son. And not all the aliens the D.E.O. encountered were hostiles to be caged. Something we took to heart and took into account when we worked. For whatever reason we honestly thought you were a threat. Your physical appearance had nothing to do with it. Even if it did? I can trust the evidence of my eyes.”

“So you trust me not to be your jailer.”

“I'm not sure how to take that actually. And it isn't intimidation you are sensing from me as much as...uncertainty. I don't know what to expect.”

“I don't intend to treat you as any sort of captive Jeremiah. I never did. You are ___my guest. As welcome here as myself.”

“Would I seem ungrateful to ask why you are being so kind to me?” Jean gave a start. “I wasn't an eager participant but I WAS on a mission to kill you.”

“I've lived on this planet for 300 years and you were the first human to treat me as an equal, knowing who I really was. I could look human if I wanted to. If I wanted to, I could look like your commanding officer. You and Henshaw are the first humans in more than 50 years to see me as I truly am FIRST. And you didn't fear me. Come to that, I don't think either of you were particularly afraid of me.”

“Hank is narrow-minded and stubborn. But he isn't as bad as people think.” Suddenly I felt like hanging my head. “I owe you an apology. I do not understand how but we were VERY wrong about you. And I am sorry.”

“I understand.”

“What is this place?” I asked him.

“A...a place that you have to see for yourself. Are you ready?”

“Lead the way.”

Thus begins six years of peace and incorporate league both in Arias Peru and the Department of Extra-normal Operations on the West coast of the United States.

Timeless Frozen Ocean Aka: D.E.O. Revelations

“I thought we were a little overdue for a chat.” The young woman said to the solemn, dark-skinned man at her door. “Well, in or out choose one.”

“I rather deserve that. We need to have a serious talk.” A shiver went up Nikita's spine.

“I'm sorry; it still kinda gives me the chills when you talk like that.”

“I'm surprised it doesn't make you want to punch something...especially me.”

“Hank, what exactly are you here to hear from me? I mean we both know there is a pretty serious animal in the room, but what do you think that animal looks like...a tiger or an elephant?”

“Well that's actually what I'm asking...If I understand you correctly there is definitely some giant Herbivore that's stopping us from solving a damn problem. But if it is not a frightened dog -- and I can tell it is not -- why is it not a tigress? And why is it not turning on its kidnappers? Nikita I really mean it...why don't you hate me?”

“I have no reason on the face of this earth to hate you Hank. And I have nothing to fear from you anymore. Aside from the fact that hate is useless, I can sense everything that makes you who you are. The essence or core of a person, a soul I guess it's called. I don't mean an immortal thing. It isn't of everyone but I've spent enough time around you I can hear your proverbial heart. There is nothing in you now that even resembles what I sensed from you before...the person you were when you and I used to sit here and have those endless debates. I cannot hold who you were over the man you are now. It's actually against my own scriptures to do so.”

“Were you a priest on your planet?” Hank looked shocked and stupefied and a couple other things at once. “I'm sorry but everyday Christians don't hold so unswervingly or effortlessly to Christian teachings. Only those with religious training or holy orders so devotedly follow, even our own 'scriptures'. Are you the equal to a Franciscan friar?”

“Only in so far as the teachings in our holy book resemble closely what I have read in your Bible. And it's one of a very few things I have of my culture of origin. I never attended church back home. I would have if I'd had the liberty, I wasn't given that opportunity. I wasn't a prisoner I was...a shameful secret. I stayed at home, read books, watched holo-vids and read The Good Book over and over again. I KNOW the ten tales that comprise my peoples most sacred book. The only good thing that came from being hidden away is how easily I can follow the star in my own heart, and live as I would be taught....even without the...Basic Instructions By Light Eternal. On my desk.”

'I've heard the Bible called Basic Instruction Before Lea...You meant your scriptures, didn't you?”

“We read them by lamplight and they are the light that guides our way as we journey along through life. We don't argue about what the afterlife looks like and there is never any doubt that one exists–Yeah, I didn't mean the Bible. Although from what I've read, even though it gets drown out a lot, the Ten Certain Tales are found in your Bible as well. Hank you've made the conscious choice to be different, to be better than you were before. More than that you have succeeded. You ARE a man a million times better than who you were. I will not hold onto that hot coal just waiting for you to backslide so I can stone you with it. I realize I am mixing A-ton of metaphors here, but they fit. From my perspective, from my personal perspective as well as the teaching of my own people's scriptures,  holding your past self against the man standing in front of me right now is not only stupid, it's morally wrong. Hate is as painful as it is destructive, and completely useless. The fires of the past hurt like hell, why would I choose to keep them burning hot?”

“Forgotten, but not gone?” Hank Henshaw said mildly.

“Oh trust me, this shrap still hurts...I just don't let it dig into my back.”