My name is Shania Hawkins. My parents are Shayera Hol and Sherman Hawkins. I have an older half brother whose name is Rex Stewart. I have long reddish orange hair and brown eyes with snow white wings. My favorite outfit to wear is a pair of blue sneakers, green jeans, and a long sleeved purple shirt. I am known as Hawklady and the Keeper of the Firebird Force.
To understand my story you have to understand the circumstances of my brother's birth. He and I don't share the same father and in my mother's society I am an only child. My brother is four years older then I. He is the result of a one night stand between my mother and my friend Lucas father. Although John was dating Vixen he still had some feelings for my mother. They were just talking about old times in my mother's quarters. Mom served some champagne and they ended up getting drunk and having sex. The next day they were both mortified by what happened. They didn't speak to each other for almost a month.
My mother hid the fact she was pregnant from everyone aboard the Watchtower for five months. Then during a mission she got severely injured and the truth was discovered. She and John then had a talk. "Your wondering why I didn't tell you I was pregnant with your child aren't you?" she asked shamefully. She looked at the floor of the infirmary not able to face him.
"Why didn't you tell me? I had a right to know. You didn't think I would figure it out when you gave birth? Shayera what's the matter with you? You know I would do anything to help you out." John told her.
"That's the problem John. If I told you want to help in anyway you could which meant breaking off your relationship with Mara for me. You don't love me the same way you do her. I couldn't ask you to give up everything you had for a child that was a result of a mistake. John you don't seem to understand something. On Thanagar my child would be considered a bastard, a half-breed, he wouldn't even exist because he was born out of wedlock and his father is human. Don't think I would treat my child like that just because of those beliefs, but how would you treat him? The best thing you can do is let me handle this situation the way I want to. I will give him your name and let you visit us, but other then that I don't think it would be a good idea if you were part of our lives. Please try to respect my decision." Shayera informed him. John nodded his head in defeat knowing he couldn't change her mind. Four months later Rex John Stewart was born.
It was a few months before the League dissolved when my mother met my father. My brother had just turned one and was a happy baby boy. The only clue that he was part Thanagerian was his weak looking wings on his back. My mother still was an active member of the team. She was on monitor duty when a lone space ship of Thanagerian design crash landed outside of Midway City. Leaving Rex with Diana, my mother, Superman, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow went to investigate.
When they found the ship it was badly damaged. Sparks where flying everywhere. There were burn marks all over it indicating it had been in a fight. They approached the ship cautiously and suddenly out of the ship stumbled a lone Thanagerian. He wore bronze armor with an nth metal saber attached to his weapon's belt. His mask resembled a peregrine falcon's head. He collapsed to the ground due to blood loss. They rushed over to him and Shayera gasped. "Its Captain Sherman Hawkins of the Thanagerian Army. I know him. We grew up together in Downtown. We both trained as Wingmen together. He disappeared about a year after I came to Earth. What's he doing here?"
"Will find that out later. Right now he needs medical attention. Green Lantern can you tow the ship to the Watchtower so we can examine it?" Superman asked. G.L. nodded and encased the ship in a globe of green energy. "Green Arrow your going to be security detail. After where done patching this guy up he's going to the brig. Will interrogate him later. Shayera you will tell the rest of the team everything you know about this man once we get back. Lets go."
"I don't know what else I can tell you that I haven't already mentioned. Sherman and I were friends. We were both elite Wingmen. He excelled at connecting clues while I excelled at capturing the criminals. We both were drafted into the army and for a while taught at the Academy. While I was preparing for my mission to Earth he was leading our troops in the war against the Gordianions. He has several medals for his services. He's a fair, just man who knows how to keep discipline. The last report of him was that his ship had been destroyed in battled and his escape pod never recovered. I thought he was dead. I don't know why he'd come here." Shayera informed them.
" I took a look at his ship. He programmed it to take him as far away from the fighting as possible. He was in cryogenic sleep for all this time. Interesting part is the computer fed him all revlent information about the war and going on's directly into his brain while he slept. By the looks of things Shayera your friend is a deserter. He got sick of fighting and left." Batman told her.
"I managed to repair his injuries. He should be waking up soon. But what are we to do with him after that? We can't keep him here indefinitely because he's a Thanagerian. That wouldn't be right. We have to think of something." J'onn said calmly.
"Don't forget he's been asleep for a very long time. He may have been fed information on Thanagar but I doubt he knows what's going on with the rest of the galaxy. Someone will have to help him out." Diana pointed out.
"Look I'll do it. I'll be his guide. I know you don't completely trust me after all this time, but this is something I got to do. Sherman was my friend for many years. He's like me exiled from home. There are so many questions I want to ask. Please if you think I need watching have Flash or G.L. watch me. But this is something I have to do." Shayera pleaded. Finally Superman relented.
An hour later my mother was sitting outside a cell with Rex waiting for Sherman to wake up. When he did he looked around and smiled. "Hi Shayera. It's been a long time. I should have known you be the one to rescue me."
"It's good to see you to Sherman though I'm surprised. The reports said that you had died in battle. Why did you fake your death and run away from the war? The Sherman Hawkins I knew would never do that. You loved being a hero. You were the best captain the army ever had. Medals in valor, honor, and bravery you should be proud of them. You were a living legend. Why did you betray our people by becoming a deserter."
"Because I grew sick of the endless killing. The war was pointless Shayera. I had become a Wingman to bring Justice to our planet and have a purpose in live. In the army I fought for our freedom, but it was all a lie, a sham. We Thanagarians weren't warriors or freedom fighters. We were monsters butchers. I couldn't live with it anymore. Do you remember that night I contacted you before they made you lieutenant? When I was in the hospital recovering from my broken wing? Remember how I was there for three months." Sherman asked her.
Shayera nodded her head. She recalled that night distinctively. Hro and her had had fight and she was upset. Talking to her childhood friend had calmed her down. They had discussed everything except the war that night. It was the first time in a long while she had felt the burden on her shoulders lifted. "Yes I remember that night? What was so special about it? What does it have to do with your recovery?"
"I was visited in the hospital by a priest of a secret order of religious Thanagariens. The order was based upon the myths and principles created by our legendary hero's Warhawk and his wife Warrior Angel. He told me that ever since Thangariens had given up on faith our souls had been stained. If we believed in peace, serenity, and harmony there would be no need for bloodshed. He taught me all sorts of things. I soon began to believe what he said. We had never in our history tried to settle things peacefully. The teachings and the myths helped me recover. I became a member of the order determined to spread the word. But my superiors weren't thrilled with the idea of a religious fanatic. They told me to give up my beliefs or I be sent to a detion camp. I couldn't live with that and I had to protect the order from persecution. So I left the fighting and set a course deep into space hoping to find you." Sherman told her.
From the shadows behind her she heard her friends scoff at him. They didn't believe his story. "But why me? Where you hoping to convert me or something? Sherman even if I did believe all of this I'm still in exile. I betrayed our people. I let everyone down."
"I don't believe that. Perine Gru and Hro Talon are the ones that betrayed our people. They and the Council have become the monsters. That hyperspace bypass gate was wrong. We have forgotten the true reasons we fight the Gordianions and instead became them. You followed your heart and I never doubted you. I also agree with what you're doing to me currently. I know your friends are watching us while we talk and I know that I deserve to be in this cell because I'm a risk, but I don't care. Shayera you have to understand something. When I left most of the order had been discovered and killed. The head priest entrusted me with all the scriptures, teachings, and relics. They're in my ship. The priest said I played some role in some grand design that will save Thanagar and he told me so do you." Sherman told her patiently.
"Sherman I doubt that very much. I don't think there's anything special about me that would help Thanagar. I've hurt to many people both of our world and my new one. Nothing good has ever happen to me." Shayera told him sadly.
"Not even him? He's a very handsome baby. He has his mother's eyes. Yet his wings don't look strong enough to support him. Who's the father and what's his name?" Sherman asked curiously.
"His name is Rex Stewart and his father is an old lover of mine. It was a stupid one night thing. Rex's wings aren't strong enough to support him in flight because he's half human. You know what that means. By our laws I've committed a crime and he doesn't exist." Shayera told him.
"You don't really believe that do you? Shayera I don't care about your past or the circumstances surrounding Rex. What I do know is I want to help you. I could use my skills and talents to help both of you. That is if you trust me enough to let me out." Sherman told her. She pressed a button and the force field dropped. He stepped out and scooped up Rex. "Don't worry little man I'll help you fly."
After the League dissolved my parents moved to Midway City. They lived comfortably for three years without anyone knowing about them. My dad adopted Rex and used the left over nth metal from the ship to create a suit of armor for Rex so that he could fly. He also made my mother a firm believer in religion. When my mother got pregnant with me she got very excited and worried. She couldn't give birth to me at the local hospital so she arranged for Marsha to do the delivery aboard the Watchtower while J'onn was on Earth. But there was one other thing bothering her.
"Sherman what your saying is pure myth. The Firebird Force is just a legend that we tell children to explain how we became winged warriors and where the nth metal comes from. There is no mythical force that resides in our planet's core. And in times of peril a Keeper is born. Someone destined to control the force and use it to save Thanagar. I don't believe it!" Shayera said angrily.
"Deny it all you want, but every other myth or story has come true. The original order priest had the ability to foresee the future and wrote down the prophecy so that future generations of priests could prepare the Keeper. But now its up to us, don't you see this is what the priest meant when he said we played a part in the grand design. Our child will be the next Keeper." Sherman tried to persuade her.
"How do you know? What proof do you have that our daughter is going to be the Keeper of the Firebird Force. The one according to legend destined to save Thanagar." Shayera demanded.
"The prophecy clearly states that the child of a fallen angle and a warrior of peace who is born in a haven among the stars will control the Firebird Force. If she is raised by good and trained in the proper use of her powers she will bring religion, peace, and safety to a war torn world. But if raised by evil she will bring death and destruction to all who oppose her. Our daughter fits that description. Don't you see where going to train her to use her powers for good so someday she can save her home world."
"And what if evil forces come after her? There are plenty of enemies in my past as well as yours who would wish to harm her." Shayera said.
"Nothing will harm our daughter or take her from us I promise." Sherman said. Three weeks later my entire family was aboard the Watchtower. My brother waited anxiously to see if mother would be okay. Marsha was a big help and totally supportive. After eighteen hours of labor my mother gave birth to me. "She's beautiful just like her mother. The test says she's perfectly normal. Now I want you and your kids to go rest in your room while I talk to Sherman about something. I'll check in on you in an hour okay?" Marsha asked after wheeling mother into a recovery room. She just nodded and put me in my incubator and fell asleep on the bed with Rex.
Marsha ushered my father into a private room. "You wanted me to perform special test on her to determine if she was the keeper of something. I don't know about if she is but my sensors picked up some strange energy readings coming from her. I've never seen anything like it."
"Then it might be possible that she carries within her the key to my planet's salvation?" Sherman asked anxiously.
"I don't know for certain Sherman, but that little girl is pretty special. She's going to do great things. That's odd there's a ship approaching the Watchtower at warp speeds. There not slowing down, their firing on us! Brace for impact!" Marsha yelled as the energy weapons bombarded the station. The ship continued its assault on the Watchtower never giving up.
Sherman was the first one to regonice the ship. It was a Thanagerian War Ship. It was capable of crippling this station if it wanted to. The only thought that raced through his mind is why where his people here?
"There transporting aboard the Watchtower! I can't stop them. Computer reads five of them. One female four males two levels below. Come on we have to find them." Marsha said phasing through the ground and going after the four males.
Sherman headed for his wife's room hoping that he would reach her in time. He was halfway there when a Thanagerian energy blaster shot him at close range. He ducked to the right and drew his saber. When the smoke cleared he saw Perin Gru standing there with her shield in one hand and blaster in the other. She looked at him in disgust. "Well if it isn't Captain Sherman Hawkins the traitorous deserter. I don't think you realize how much your disappearance affected us in the long run. We could have used you in our final battle with the Gordianions and you had to become a religious fanatic. To make matters worse you went and married the treacherous criminal Shayera Hawkins."
"Your one to talk about blood on my hands. You wouldn't have bated an eye at the death of six billion people all in the name of more bloodshed. We could have come up with a peaceful solution to our problems with the Gordianions and the problems within our own society yet we didn't. I take faith and religion any day. And for the record my wife isn't a criminal you are." Sherman retorted. He then charged her saber drawn to the ready.
Perin Gru fired three shots, which he deflected. He took a swipe at her but she rolled out of the way and shot her legs out tripping him. He stumbled but recovered enough to send a punch at her. She blocked with her shield then karate chopped him. He fell to the ground in a heap. She set her blaster to stun and shot a round at him just incase. "This is Perin Gru report in. I have just taken out Shayera's mate. Were you successful in incapacitating the female Martian?"
"Affirmative. We have her under watch as we speak. We checked the stations log and no one else is here. Were clear." One of the voices said.
"Good keep a close eye on her. I'm going to get what we came here for. Be ready to beam back to the ship at a moments notice. Perin Gru out." She then made her way through the station till she came to Shayera room. Using an override key she entered the room. She saw my brother asleep on the bed and me in my incubator resting. She strolled towards us when a ball of electricity sent her flying back.
Standing in between Perin Gru and us was my mother. She was still in her hospital gown dripping with sweat and totally exhausted from giving birth but she wasn't about to let anything happen to her babies. She held the mace up defiantly. "I don't know why you're here Perin Gru, but I won't let you harm my family. Heyah!" Mother screamed raising the mace up. Perin Gru just shot her straight in the chest sending her crashing into the far wall.
She crumpled to the ground in pain. She struggled to get up, but couldn't.
The blast woke up Rex. He looked at mother and screamed, "Mommy! Are you okay?" He turned to face Perin Gru hatred in his eyes. "No one hurts my mommy and gets away with it. Yah!" He jumped straight off the bed towards her talons outstretched. She caught him and squeezed his wrist. "Such a pity. You have the temper of one of us, but that's all I'm afraid you inherited from your mother. Your just as weak as your human father half breed." She flung him on top of my mother.
"Don't you dare harm my children Perin! This is between you and us. I don't know why you've come here, but I won't let you harm my son!" Mother told her managing to sit up.
"Do you really think I came all this way to harm you bastard son? Really Shayera I thought you where smarter then that. I'm here for your daughter, the Keeper of the Firebird Force." Perin told her holding my mother and brother at bay with her gun.
My mother looked at her in stun disbelieve. How could she possibly know about the prophecy? "I don't understand Perin, you're a scientist, a soldier. Surely you don't believe in myths." Mother commented hoping to discourage her from taking me.
"I am a scientist, but my hobby was mythology. I studied every ancient myth, legend, and fable of our people hoping to stumble across something that would help the resistance win back control of our planet. I came across the Order of Warhawk and Warrior Angel. I discovered that several of their visions had come true. Including the one about the angle in disguise. She would be hailed as a savior of the stars only to betray her fellow guardians and in the end be cast out of heaven doomed to wander aimlessly until a new hope was born for her to reclaim her position. That's you Shayera. You're a fallen angle and your husband is a warrior of peace so I've been monitoring your transmissions. When I discovered you where giving birth to a daughter I decided to come and take her." Perin explained.
"I won't let you take my daughter from me. I'll ahhhhhhh!" Mother screamed as electricity shot through her entire body. Rex tried to help but ended up getting shocked to. Perin smiled and walked over to the incubator and picked me up. She looked at me a smiled her evil smile. "Nooooo." Mother said weakly a hand out streached for me.
"Don't worry Shayera I won't kill you. I promise to be a good mother to your daughter. After she's finished destroying the Gordianions I'll send her back to Earth to get rid of her mother, father, and bastard brother. This is Perin Gru I got the child lets go." Perin said. She shifted me in her arms still gloating.
Suddenly I started glowing a deep fiery orange. Light filled the room and Perin dropped me in surprise, but I didn't fall to the ground. Instead an orange bird made completely out of fire held me up. "The Firebird Force. Its incredible!" Perin said staring. Suddenly a shaft of glowing light hit her and sent her, her comrades, and their ship all the way back to Thanagar. I then came to a rest on the floor where I started crying. My father rushed in and picked me up and checked on my family.
After that we returned home and moved to a different building so I could grow up in safety. Marsha gave my parents and Rex special displacement bracelets that worked on the same principle of the GL lantern dimension. Their wings would disappear while they had them activated. I didn't need one because I could due to a mutation caused by the Firebird Force make my wings disappear inside me. My father became a cop and my mother became a parole officer. My brother dreamed of being a detective.
I was five when I started learning how to fly and use my other talents. Thanagerian have super eyesight and hearing. I could also communicate with birds and that was a lot of fun. We had a pigeon roost on top of our apartment and I would spend hours there after my lessons in religion and myths. I had been told about the incident on the day of my birth, but since then I hadn't been able to call on the power. I thought it was a fluke maybe.
I was seven years old and sitting on the roof talking with one of our pigeon that I named Cornelia. Rex who was eleven was suppose to be watching me, but he was too involved with his stupid hologame. We often argued about stuff. Mostly about our father. I knew that my father wasn't his biological father and that he saw his real dad three days every months but I couldn't understand that kind of loyalty. "So how's your wing feeling today Corny? Is it any better now that I've changed the bandages?"
She cooed and made other noises, which I understood perfectly. She was fine and happy as could be. I put her back with her friends and gazed at the city. I would of loved to grow my wings and fly but I wasn't allowed to go flying without my parents. Father suddenly appeared by my side. "Anything wrong little one?" he inquired.
"Its nothing really Father. I just have a lot on my mind. I mean I am the girl destined to bring peace to her home world even if Earth feels more like home then Thanagar." I said sarcastically.
"Rex could you go help you mother with dinner? I need to talk to your sister for a moment." Rex shrugged got up and went downstairs. "Want to tell me what this is really about?"
"Its just I'm not sure that I'm this girl you speak of in the prophesy. I don't think I some special inner force. I mean how am I suppose to bring peace to a war torn world. A world that I've never been to before. You've been teaching me that I'm some kind of savior, but all I feel like is a failure and a misfit. I mean don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want to go into law enforcement. I want to be a doctor." I told him. My arms where crossed and I leaned against the roof top barrier.
"Shania I know that its confusing for you. You have so many responsibilities and the task that your mother and I are preparing you for is very difficult. But believe me when I say that you are the one who will save the planet. You have the Firebird force inside of you. You just have to learn how to call on it. As for being a doctor I think that's a fine dream. I hope you accomplish it." Father told me. He then picked me up and carried me inside.
That was also the year I started learning how to defend myself. My father used the last of the nth metal he had to create for me an extendible bo staff that could be electrified. My mother chose my weapon because it could be used for offense as well as defense. We would practice the four of us in the park at night. My mother always came down hard on me.
Once again I fell from the sky unable to defend myself from the onslaughts from my father's saber, my mother's mace, or my brother's armor. I stood up and brushed the dirt off me. "Why do I have to know how to do this? If I'm a messenger of peace why do I need to know how to fight and attack someone? Doesn't that make me seem hypercritical?" I demanded.
"Shania your task isn't an easy one. Most Thanagerians are too stubborn and set in their ways to listen to someone who says they know better. Especially if that person is a young girl who preaches religion. You have to know how to protect yourself. Now once more Shania lets go." Mother ordered and once again we spared.
I never wanted to be a detective but I couldn't help but pick up a few things from my parents. They were so much like me in so many ways. Both trying to make up for the horrors our kind committed. Would I have any success in the future? I didn't know but one thing was for sure I didn't want to put my family in danger. I think that's what originally prompted my interest in becoming a superherion and having a secret identity.
By the time I was sixteen I was fairly confident in myself. I still loved hanging out with birds, but I had lots of friends. I read medical textbooks and practice martial arts. My brother was attending community collage. He had already had a superhero handle. He named himself Warhawk after our mythical hero who granted the gift of flight to my people. One night when my parents were working late he was going out on a patrol. "Wait Rex can I come with you please! I have my own costume and everything ready. I really want to see what its like to help people." I begged.
"Alright you can come along. Hurry up and change. But if Mom or Father ask you're the one explaining things to them." He said as he slipped on his armor.
I raced into my room and pulled out the articles of clothing I had assembled for my costume. Knee high blue boots, light green pants, a white belt with clip on it for my bo staff, a no sleeve purple shirt, and a hawk mask identical to my mother's. I had even come up with a superherion name. I was like a hawk but more a lady then girl so I was Hawklady. Rex and I snuck out onto the roof and produced our wings and soured away.
I loved flying it was the most magical experience in the world. Never did I ever feel freer then I did when I was in the air. We were circling downtown when we both spotted something amiss at the zoo. Prankster's were letting the animals loose and they were running loose in the city. "You catch the bad guys and I'll round up the animals." I shouted to Warhawk. He nodded and we split.
Several officers were shooting blindly at the animals and several bystanders where running scared. I had to bring this to an end before someone got hurt. I called out to all the loose birds to come to my aid and together we heard the animals back into their catches. When they needed a little persuasion I just lit up my staff to show them who was boss. Then I attended to the injured bandaging them up the best I could. My brother and I were declared heroes. When I got home I received plenty of praise from my parents.
A year later the League formed and I found a kindred spirit. J'osse and I were both aliens among humans. Whose ancestral homes we never been to. Who didn't want to be like our parents. I found him to be a wonderful boyfriend and when we discovered that the Firebird Force allowed me to share my thoughts with him without danger to myself we were in heaven. What more could you ask for?
Being Hawklady is a wonderful thing. I am able to help people all around the world and share my passion for learning and peace. I never try to escalate a confrontation and I try to find a peaceful solution to every problem, but don't make me mad because I will fight back. I now know that I was indeed the right person to take care of the Firebird Force.