Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Unmistakably a Sanctuary

This alternate contains an alternate. And both are better.


When their captor comes in to take Hank away, Jeremiah offers an alternative.


No please, take me.” Jeremiah Danvers said in a rush. The alien warrior lowered his fist. “I might not like him very much, but I cannot let this continueWe have rules even in plain war. you don't keep hacking at a man after he's down. He's no longer any threat to you. If for no other reason than to prove you're better than us - better than him, leave him be."

I do not understand what you are suggesting. Please elaborate.”

Jeremiah hesitated for a moment. "He has a beacon on him to activate in emergency and call for extraction. Activate the beacon and leave him as he is...or drop him off somewhere. Agents from our organization will find him. I'll go with you."

“You would give up your freedom for this man's life?” He said, mystified.

“For his freedom AND his life...yes. And to be completely open, I'd rather not go back. If you let me go with you...well you'd be doing exactly that. In a way you'd be giving me a new life. And almost certainly a better one.”


“Stop this!" 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 actions nor my own. 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 the kind of person I was and what he thought of me. I 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. “You, I have no problem with.” He said finally.

“Then let him go. I'll stay.”

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

“I'm asking that you let him go. He has a beacon in his vest pocket. Let our people find him and bring him home. But don't let them find me here.”

“You would give up your freedom for this man's life?” He said quietly.

“For his freedom and his life, yes.”

He seemed mystified anyone would make that sacrifice for another.  Indeed he was looking at me with such a strange, almost incredulous expression I had to fight to keep from laughing at him. Looking a little harder at his green skin I realized he was surprised a human solider would so willingly surrender themselves to the not so tender care of an alien. And that I had to find a way to assure him of my grasp of the situation, as much as my sincerity. “For his safety and freedom. 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.” He bent down, put the back of his hand to Hank's temple and stood up.

"Activate the beacon and let's get out of here."

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. Inside there was a coffee table, a floor lamp and a makeshift mattress propped up on cinder blocks. “I 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.” He quipped. 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 entered the room. Old habits 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. Btu 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. My race are shape-shifters. If I wanted to I could look like your commanding officer. I've looked human for most of my time on your planet. You and Henshaw are the first humans in more than 50 years to see me as I truly am FIRST. You didn't fear me. Actually, I don't think either of you were particularly afraid of me.”

Hank is narrow-minded and stubborn. But even 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.”

"Jeremiah, well for one thing may I call you that?"

"Of course."

"Jeremiah. You're different. I've lived on this planet 300 years and you are the first human to speak to me as an equal, seeing me in my true appearance. If I didn't have just as high an opinion of you, you wouldn't be here."

“What is this place?” I asked him.

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


In this Earth, Jeremiah broke Nikita out of the D.E.O after working there for almost 5 years and seeing no-thing that would indicate she was an enemy. Also Jeremiah is Superman's human father. Didn't want to give that away.

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