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#5

By Ken Hintze & Josh Krenz

 

<><><><><><> ABOARD THE MANHUNTERS STARSHIP <><><><><><>

J'onn awkwardly stepped toward the group of assembled Manhunters, carefully using the walls for balance. The battle had been hard, and now the group was plagued with injuries. Teammate worked on teammate, stitching and bandaging what they could. The rest would either be fused through Martian technology aboard the ship, or delayed until the Manhunters could return home.

Out of nowhere Praxis charged forward like a bullet, aimed directly towards J'onn. His trajectory was true, and he was fueled by anger and rage—no one would dare get in his way.

“ Where in the hell do you get off bringing a group like this into a fight like that? All of us combined aren't enough for Doomsday…..FREAKING DOOMSDAY!”

J'onn lowered his head in shame. “I know, Jason. We were under-prepared.”

Jason Praxis clenched his teeth together, still tasting blood from the self-inflicted wound earlier. “Under prepared? Y ou, in your infinite wisdom, felt it necessary to gather this freakshow of a team together and go in against Doomsday, Dreadnaught, Amazo, Shaggy Man, and General Zod? Maybe somewhere in your Justice League days you were blinded by the red-cape of Superman and thought we were all gods, ready for anything?”

J'onn could not respond. In the Justice League he had been responsible for coordinating efforts, maximizing the forces in order to best address the situation. This new team and this new challenge placed J'onn in a position he had never truly experienced before—that of true leader. Now, with recent consequences, it was proving to be beyond his capabilities.

“We just lost two very good people today….Armando and Terri….people I considered family.” Praxis slowed down for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. “But what does the mighty Martian Manhunter of the Justice League care about that, especially now that your daughter is here. ”

The Martian Manhunter looked around the room. No one was responding. Everyone was either in shock from the battle, this current confrontation, or simply did not know how to respond. Resentment had clearly flooded through the room, and Praxis was not the only one feeling it. In this moment of conflict others simply stood by and let Jason's rage speak for the rest.

Still, the regret and pain sat within J'onn as well. He had been responsible for gathering this team together for the assault on the Ingento Corporation headquarters, but he had never expected this kind of result. J'onn looked Praxis into his eyes. For a split second the two shared their pain together, and it was apparent that both felt the loss equally. Before J'onn could speak another word Praxis' fist caught him square under the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

Starman and Gypsy jumped to J'onn's aid, each grabbing an arm of Praxis to hold him back. Still prostrate on the floor, J'onn closed his eyes and whispered, “ It wasn't supposed to be like this…..it was supposed to be different….it was supposed to be better this time…… ”

J'onn's head rolled back as he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

Gypsy rushed to J'onn's side and held his head. She looked up at Praxis and screamed, “ He isn't responsible for any of this…we all knew the risks of this job. We knew that this isn't a safe way of life…but it's the way we all chose. We can't just stand by and expect Superman to save everyone when a real threat comes along! We need to step up and take a stand for what's right in this world…if there is anything I have learned from J'onn over the years, it's that. ”

Praxis relaxed his clenched fists slightly, and then walked to the other side of the starship. Gypsy then looked to Starman for assistance with J'onn, which he instantly provided.

“Ever been in a room full of people,” commented Will Payton , “and noticed that you're the only one helping out?”

Gypsy and Will moved J'onn into the back of the ship, laying down across a service bed. The two joined Jemm, the last son of Saturn, who sat alone at a table. This whole ordeal was wearing everyone thin. Morale was down which only added to the physical exhaustion.

“ Praxis mentioned the Justice League…..you know Gypsy, that was a Justice League level threat. I agree that we all need to step up, but why couldn't J'onn have contacted the League? Why couldn't we have had back-up? I don't blame J'onn for what happened today….but what's gone on in his life to keep him from the Justice League? ”

Gypsy held J'onn's hand and softly replied, “ I don't know Will…….but it had to be something big. ”

Jemm struggled to his feet and gingerly made his way to his fallen ally. Jemm kneeled by J'onn's head and gently touched J'onn's face. Jemm's forehead jewel began to glow intensely, as Jemm mumbled, “ I know the troubles of J'onn's mind…..let me try to help J'onn find his way home. ”

<><><><><> Retrieval/Recall – J'onn's mind – ONE YEAR AGO <><><><><>

J'onn stood in the shattered remains of the JLA Watchtower, looking at the destruction caused by Superboy. J'onn recalled the chaotic events leading up to this. It had truly been a torturous recent past for J'onn and he had barely been able to keep it all together within himself. He felt as if he was losing everything that was ever important to him. The Justice League had proven to be willing to do whatever it took to keep the peace…but at a cost of their humanity. He wasn't willing to have any part in that, as his adopted “humanity” was one of the most important traits he possessed.

He remembered the Justice League and all of the previous incarnations of the team: the original mountain base group, the satellite era, the Detroit league, the Justice League International, the JL Elite, and now the JLA. He was a member of each of those teams and teamwork, through good and bad. They taught values to the world. Developing young heroes was where he truly felt most comfortable, helping them to see past moral relativity and harness their own abilities for the world around them. It felt like a family, watching everyone grow and look out for each other. Learning to love, trust, and accept those around you for who they were.

“ Where did any of my actions really get me or the League? We stopped menaces from threatening the planet, but at what cost? Human lives? Losing Steel and Vibe was almost more than I could bear. We tried to make the world safer, but to what end? Hal, Zatanna, Carter, Ray, Ralph, Barry….people whose hands I routinely placed my very life in...I hold nothing but shame for them now. What is a family without the trust and knowledge that the right thing will always be done? ”

J'onn searched through the wreckage for anything that would be of importance to the former League and even its enemies. An incinerated Monitor Womb followed by an almost unrecognizable remnant of the Hall of Justice. He walked on towards the Power Core. Damaged hopelessly beyond repair, the Core was barely recognizable beyond a scrap heap. He sat down on a large piece of debris. A glimmer from the far side of the wreckage caught his attention. A telepathic signal resonated from the area. J'onn turned invisible and intangible, silently hovering towards the area.

A single working teleportation tube sat unharmed amongst the wreckage. Beside the opalescent machine sat two men. One man shifted forms like liquid, fluxing like beads of oil in water. The other, barely the size of a doll, sat perched on the shape shifter's shoulder. “I know these men,” J'onn thought, “they were my friends.”

“ Something set off that alert, ” the Elongated Man said, “ Let's check it out. ”

J'onn focused on the two , as the Atom grew to his normal height. “ Ralph and Ray….together?” though J'onn, “ Where have they been this past month….I tried to connect with both of them after the attack on Metropolis, but Ralph is a lost soul, and Ray doubted my sincerity. Ray was angry, about how I mistreated Ted. It was understandable why Clark or Bruce pushed them aside, but I was the only one they felt the second string heroes could always count on…..and I failed Ted. Ralph told me not to contact him again…that he would contact me if he ever felt it was worth it…. ”

Hours passed where the Elongated Man and the Atom walked through several wrecked hallways and control conduits, stopping at the ruins of the mess hall and dining room. At each corner J'onn watched, concealing himself from his former teammates.

" I never thought I'd see the day, " said Ralph, " When the League would be gone for good. Sure we've had our down times in the past, but it's never seemed this...final. "

" Maybe we should do something about that, " said Ray.

J'onn looked down in despair. He knew that the idea of the Justice League was always going to be one what the world needed…but if this was going to the birth of new Justice League, then the chances would be slim that he would be accepted into it. Besides, what type did the Justice League stand for? Mind-wipes and memory-rape? J'onn could never be apart of that. And what of Bruce, Diana, and Clark? How would they fit into this new League?

“ Sue... ” J'onn thought, missing his old friend. “Jean ...” he remembered how desire had warped a wonderful person into a monster. Ralph's head perked up, as though a string in his heart had been pulled. For a moment his insanity seemed to wash from his face as a fresh tear dripped down his elastic skin.

J'onn silently left his old friends in their mourning, and confusion. Their search for “right” would have to be traveled alone, on a different path from J'onn. He knew the environment where he felt alive, training young heroes. The Justice League was dead, any attempts at reviving it would simply be an exercise in futility. What the League stood for was gone, and the people who the League protected knew it. Without their faith there was no Justice League. J'onn needed a new team.

J'onn flew to the functional teleporter tube and traveled back to Earth.

Z'onn Z'orr, an entire base of operations constructed entirely out of Martian technology. Here he could meditate and feel the psychic connections to his past. J'onn had only one guest in this home, Jemm the son of Saturn. The two retreated back into the monitor room where the Saturnian had been staying as of late.

Jemm asked, “ My friend…you seem troubled by your time outside these walls. Perhaps you could feel confident in confiding in me? Did you encounter an enemy? ”

“ Only my own mistakes of the past. When heroes think of the Justice League they will always see me, standing alongside Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern. Nonetheless, they see me as different from the others. I am the bridge between greatness and elite. The gap between those who are like gods, and those who are simply beyond-human. Still, this distance is fictional. We were a group, designed to make the world a better place. When Metropolis was under siege, I stood alone from the elite, instead working side by side with the heroes we only call “great”. I believed in every last one of them, and still do to this day.

“Still, I treated Ted as someone unworthy of my time. He came to me, but I thought his visit unimportant, too concerned about my own investigations. The others…they can't see it any other way than to believe I didn't care. I may not be human, but I cannot do the impossible. One man is only capable of carrying so much. It tears me apart to think these people….these humans…they instantly believe the worst in me. I have tried so desperately to be one of them….to gain my own humanity….but….I never feel human around Superman or Wonder Woman. To them, we are gods—towering over humanity like parents.”

J'onn's tone shifted, becoming even more solemn.

“I feel for our enemies…I feel for our teammates…and I truly feel for our fallen comrades. Still, I am not human. I am not one of them. Where do I draw the line in defining myself? Do I attempt to be like Clark ? Completely immersing myself as a human, only to seek out a world that no longer exists? Do I stay here and live out my years alone? ”

“ All these things,” Jemm replied, “ are questions without answers. To ask them is to expect disappointment.”

Jemm looked to the floor and waited a few moments before continuing, “ J'onn….my friend…you are different and that will never be changed. But the true value of calling you a friend cannot be measured. You are always there for your friends and the inhabitants of this world….always without question. I believe that you do not see the true feelings of the heroes of this world….I know they respect you beyond anyone else. Superman stands for a symbol of Justice…Batman stands for a symbol of Fear….and Wonder Woman stands for a symbol of Inspiration. You stand for something else J'onn….you stand for a symbol of Hope. You walk alongside the best this planet has to offer, but then you also make yourself accessible to the ones who can't stand at the top. ”

“ I went to the Watchtower remains and there I saw the Atom and the Elongated Man….two men who feel hatred towards a world that promised them hope, but gave them nothing but disappointment. What good is hope? ”

“Ray and Ralph both lost their wives. One is angry, the other is confused, and both hurt. You must not let that become your personality. You too have lost your family….remember the pain they are feeling right now. Let them be, J'onn, eventually they will come back to you and you will accept them. ”

“ They…want to start a new Justice League…and…I don't know if they can do it without me. ”

“ They can J'onn….and they will. Let them give the Justice League rebirth….if you come to them now and demand to be on the team you only encourage their distrust. Right now, to them, you are a God in Man's clothing—and they have been let down too many times by God. Believe in them now J'onn, just as you always have in the past, so they can believe in themselves. Eventually they will learn to believe in you again. ”

“But….where do I go from here? Where do I belong?”

“ Y ou belong here on Earth doing what you have always done….protecting the innocent and existing as a symbol of hope. There are still a great many problems that require attention.”

The mood shifted, suddenly what was feeling like an emotionally uplifting rally-speech had now become a briefing—militant and precise, like a well operated machine.

“I have been closely watching some of your investigations and it seems a few things have grown into fruition. The number of human disappearances has been slowly increasing, with the same patterns as before--burnt ground. The disappearances seem to be spreading out all across the globe. At this time the number is up to 1,198--all missing. The latest disappearance has occurred at Chinautla , Guatemala . Someone once told me that you were one of the world's greatest detectives. We never would have known it, with you being locked away in that tower the whole time. Sure, watching a monitor is an important job, but I can do that. I'll be your eyes and ears to the rest of the world. Go do what you do best…investigate. ”

J'onn placed a hand on Jemm's shoulder, “ Indeed my friend. If I am the symbol for Hope, you must be the symbol for Awakening. I shall travel to South America and investigate these disappearances. Thank you my friend, I cannot allow my grief to overcome the importance of these matters. Working alone might be a good thing for the time being. ”

“ Alone J'onn? No my ally…you will never be alone. ”

J'onn left the monitor room and made his way back to the shuttle bay, taking the spacecraft out towards Guatemala .

The ship landed in Guatemala , and a farmer exited the craft. The air felt nice against J'onn's skin, who mimicked breathing to feel the clean but humid oxygen fill his body. The Southern Hemisphere has always been his preferred half of the globe. For years J'onn had fashioned himself identities, usually as mythical superheroes, with special emphasis south of the equator, a region generally neglected other heroes. He could always become invisible to navigate the cities, but he preferred to become a part of them—a practice in making himself more human.

J'onn made his way into the town of Chinautla . The location of the disappearance was easy enough to find. Jemm's information was precise, and local gossip was always a helpful tool. He picked up a handful of the charred dirt and carefully analyzed the soil contents—looking at a molecular level. Nothing. After placing the soil into a test tube, he continued to search the surroundings. Nothing else seemed physically affected by the burning disappearance, still, something was left to be uncovered. A quick telepathic scan of the surrounding people only showed the memories of two women kneeling on the ground, praying beside the charred earth. Then it happened, a thought of a bright flash and a young woman had disappeared. He stepped inside his mind to replay the image. There was something in the flash, two arms reaching from the light and pulling the young woman into the light. The woman had disappeared, but charred dirt had been left behind.

J'onn stood up and began to ponder these images, not noticing the figure approach him from behind. Silently the flat of a large blade slid smoothly across his throat, the cold metal sending chills across his false-skin. A voice from behind him said, “ You do not belong here…you are a trickster from elsewhere. Explain why you are here and why you find this place so…interesting. Perhaps you understand where the girl went…perhaps you can tell me where I can find her. Move! ”

J'onn let the man have his way, stepping forward at a pace that wouldn't startle the man. He could stop the blade from cutting into him, but it might further risk his operation. So, he played along. After all, it could pay off—and there were too many innocents around to risk a major fight. J'onn tried to creep into the man's mind, but he only found images of dedication and intent…

They entered a dark building in the middle of town. The man forced J'onn into a chair and tied him down to it. The knots were good, practiced and solid. A normal human would have a lot of difficulty even tying these knots, let alone getting them undone. The man moved in front of J'onn, but the darkness of the room made normal visibility difficult.

“ The names Butcher….not that it's gonna matter when I get done with ya. I can tell that you don't belong here; you move slightly off, and the dialect is wrong. You might be good, but I'm better. Speak…who are you and what is your business here? ”

J'onn smiled as he stopped scanning Butcher's mind. “ You are John Butcher…you are a good man. Please my friend, feel no threat from me.” J'onn morphed into his Martian Manhunter form, “I am the Martian Manhunter of the Justice League…I am here to investigate what happened to that woman. I am a friend…I am here to help. ”

Butcher sheathed his knife. “ J'onn J'onzz…it is a pleasure to meet you. One girl disappears and they send one of the Seven? Thought you'd be too busy fighting off world-eaters to make your way down here. ”

“ The Justice League is no more, and we must regain sight of what brought us here initially. I am concentrating my efforts where the majority of heroes do not. Our interests in this case allign.”

“ Yeah…I saw it happen to another person, so I picked up the trace and followed the trail here. There is a pattern J'onn and I tracked it to this city, but I got here too late to do anything to help…I can figure out the next location pretty roughly, but I have no way of determining who in an entire city will be the next target. ”

“ Then work with me, John Butcher, as I am fully dedicated to sharing any and all information I come across with you. My ally, Jemm, has sent me a message regarding another disappearance…this time in Canada . I suggest that we split up and remain in contact with each other regarding this matter. I will travel to Canada and you should remain here in South America …with your ability to spot me in full disguise I feel very confident that you will make a sound ally in this matter. ”

“ It's just nice to know that one of the big guns really cares…thanks for looking into this J'onn. Funny, I thought you guys never left that tower, let alone made it this far South. Gives a man hope. ”

J'onn nodded in appreciation, then said, “ You have no idea what that means to me, John Butcher.”

The Martian Manhunter reached into his pocket and removed a small Martian device—a communicator. “This,” he explained while handing it to Butcher, “ will allow you to contact either myself or my partner Jemm anywhere on the planet. I feel confident leaving knowing that you are here John Butcher, I am off to Canada . Farewell.”

J'onn turned invisible and took the sky, flying under his own power to the concealed starship. J'onn plugged in the coordinates of the disappearance in Canada and then allowed the ship to take flight on auto-pilot. J'onn looked down at the terrain below and thought, “ Hope… ”

<><><><><><><> Z'ONN Z'ORR – Current Time <><><><><><><>

The starship docked into the bay at Z'onn Z'orr, as Gypsy opened the hatch to let out the heroes. Starman and Jemm had placed J'onn's comatose body onto a hovering stretcher, along with K'Hym, Armek, and Snapper Carr. Following the injured heroes were the covered bodies of Reverb and Echo. Starman, Crazy Jane, Velvet Tiger, Vapor, Gypsy, Jemm, Butcher, Praxis, and Ultra all stood outside the starship.

Sensing the unrest among the Manhunters, Jemm stepped forward. “ I know we don't all respect everything J'onn has done…but it is not fair to blame him for this tragedy. Right now is a time of healing, not accusations. I hope that you all are capable of that. I hope to bring J'onn out of his comatose state, but it will not be easy. Right now, J'onn is in a place that I cannot touch. We will need someone far more telepathically powerful than I to pull him from the inner reaches of his mind prison. ”

“ But who could we get to do something like that?” asked Will Payton, “I mean…the only guys I can think of that hold that level of telepathic power are Hector Hammond, Dr. Psycho, Despero, Gorilla Grodd, Psimon, and Brainiac…not really guys we can trust to sort out J'onn's head! ”

“ No Will, even they would require time—more time than we have—to work through J'onn's mind, but I am not willing to compromise him in this weakened state. There is one being that can get through to J'onn that I am aware of….but it will not be easy to get his attention. In the meantime, we still need to press on with the Ingento Corporation investigation. ”

Praxis stepped in front of Jemm and replied, “ You are driving this starship and you're taking me, Vapor, and Gypsy home to Detroit . We're going to bury our friends there…and then we can talk about saving the world. No questions…just do it. ”

Jemm nodded in agreement, as they loaded the two dead bodies back onto the starship and the three former Conglomerate members boarded.

“ J'onn is a dear friend of mine and he contacted me to join in this matter…I will stay here and keep things safe, ” said Ultra. Velvet Tiger, Butcher, Starman, and Crazy Jane nodded in agreement.

“J'onn will be safe here with you,” observed Jemm, “if anyone were to try anything funny, they would have a rather unruly welcoming party.”

Jemm looked out on the rest of the team.

“ Rest well my friends…for we will need to split up when I return for two tasks. First, we need to press on with the Ingento Corporation investigation and find the missing people. Second…we will take J'onn's comatose body to see the only being that can help him. J'onn has spent the past year on the Ingento Corporation investigation and in training me with my telepathic powers…he once told me of a being that is more powerful than even he is with telepathic powers, but chooses to not display these powers. J'onn called him a friend and I trust J'onn beyond all others. ”

Crazy Jane asked, “ But who could this be? ”

Jemm responded, “ We must take him to John Constantine…and only he can get us in contact with the one we seek….the Earth elemental… .the Swamp Thing! ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEXT ISSUE: J'onn is down, the group is in tension, two funerals to come, the 7,500 people are still missing, and Jemm is going to turn to the SwampThing? How this all plays out is answered in the next issue, where we also find out some major secrets about the Ingento Corporation. It's all progressing forward….so check back next issue in Manhunters #6!