Chapter 36: Martian Manhunter:
News Report:
This just in! A series of robberies have been committed! Suspect has not yet been seen, but wait, suspect has been spotted and... it can't be! It's... It's... It's... It's the Martian Manhunter!
Nancy's POV:
I was reading the news about the Martian Manhunter. So, he's actually a crook. I hope the Justice League realize that. I wonder what would a martian want with monkey and gold. Then again, if I were on another planet, I'd need the planet's currency too.
"Miss Drew?"
"Huhh," I asked.
"I'm Detective John Jones. I'm here because I got word that the Martian Manhunter might come to this town."
"Really," I asked.
"Yes, and I would like you to tell me if you see anything suspicious."
"No problem," I said. He then handed me his card.
. . .
I was walking when I saw something was going on at the Lodges'. I decided to check it out.
. . .
I looked in the window and saw the Martian Manhunter with the Lodges tied up. He was robbing them.
"You should feel honored," he said, "you got to be robbed by someone famous." He then phased out. I then called Detective Jones.
John Jones' POV:
I then found him.
"Well, look who it is," he said.
I then turned to my true form, for I am the true Martian Manhunter. "You will cease with this, Ma'alefa'ak," I said.
My brother then turned to his true form. "I'm just getting started, J'onn."
"You are ruining my reputation," I said, "the League are now debating whether or not it is me!"
"And why did you not just tell them," asks Ma'alefa'ak.
"Because, whether it's on Earth or on Mars, that would make me look more guilty," I said, "only an idiot would try."
"Well, it won't be long until everyone hates you even more than I do, Brother."
He and I then fought. We are both green martians, so we have the same powers. He then phased through the ground. I can't use my mental powers to find him. Martians don't read each other's minds, but I did sense a mind coming nearby.
Nancy's POV:
I was walking and I found him. "Oh boy," I said, "uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh... the police will be coming here!"
He then left.
. . .
I then spoke with the gang.
"I never did trust martians," says George, "I mean, we all saw the movies."
"And I thought he was cool," says Shawn.
"Guys, with his powers, people could be in danger," says Ned.
"So far, he's just robbing people," says Bess.
"And how long will it be before he decides to do more damage," asks Ned.
"Good point," says Bess.
"I better talk with Detective Jones," I said.
. . .
I found Detective Jones' office. I knocked on the door. I didn't hear anything. I then decided to see if he was alright, so I kicked the door down and I saw the Martian Manhunter turning into Detective Jones. "UUUUUUUUUmmmmmmmmm... hello."
"YYYooouuu... what did you do with Detective Jones," I asked.
"Miss Drew... I am Detective Jones."
"What," I asked.
"My real name is J'onn J'onzz. I use the Earth version, John Jones as my alter ego."
"WWeeellllll... I should call the police on you," I said, "you're a crook!"
"Miss Drew... I am a shapeshifter."
"So?"
"If I were committing crimes, would it not make more sense for me to do it as someone else?"
"I... I... I... I didn't think of that... wait, then who has been doing it?"
"My brother, Ma'alefa'ak. Long ago, on Mars, our sister fell in love with a white martian. Ma'alefa'ak did not take that well, so he attempted to kill them both. I stopped him and allowed our sister to marry her beloved. Ma'alefa'ak has hated me since and has vowed to destroy me."
"Wait, all this because your sister decided to marry a white martian," I asked.
"Have your people not had a history of hating someone who looks different?"
"Good point."
"He realized that since we are the same race and we have the same powers, so he decided to use those powers to frame me."
"He certainly had me fooled," I said, "but part of that might be on me for not realizing how shapeshifting works. Hey, does it hurt when you change yourself like that?"
"Not really. Now, I must find my brother and stop him!"
"Maybe I can help," I said.
"And should the time come, how would you be able to tell us apart?" He then flies off.
He has a point. Ma'alefa'ak does such a good job, you'd have to be an idiot not to get them mixed up. I then sat on J'onn's bed and looked at the bag of cookies on the table next to it. I then had a thought. I opened a cabinet and there was a lot of bags of cookies. Someone has a problem... I then had an idea.
Martian Manhunter's POV:
I was looking for my brother. I then found him. He was holding the Mayor hostage.
"I demand this city surrenders all its wealth to me," he says, "or the Mayor goes splat!"
"Release him," I said.
Everyone sees the two of us.
Shawn's POV:
We saw the two Martian Manhunters.
"There's two of them," asks Ned.
"Now I'm confused," says George.
"How can we tell them apart," asks Bess.
Martian Manhunter's POV:
Ma'alefa'ak then drops the mayor, but I saved him and put him on the street. Ma'alefa'ak then punches me, and we start fighting.
Nancy's POV:
I arrived just in time. I saw the two martians fighting, but they both look exactly the same. Luckily, I know what to do. "Hey Martians," I said. I hold up the cookies and they both see. I then throw the bag and one grabs it. The other tries to escape, but the police came, with flamethrowers. That causes him to back down. Martians hate fire.
. . .
Ma'alefa'ak was being taken in. They used a collar to negate his powers.
"Thank you, Miss Drew," says J'onn.
"My pleasure. So, how's the League," I asked.
"They apologized," says J'onn, "now I'm going back."
"You sure you want to go back," I asked.
"Of course, you have to be a monster not to forgive and besides, the Martian Manhunter belongs with the Justice League." He then flies off. He really should have been one of the founding members.
In the next chapter, Nancy meets Supergirl.