Hopeless, Part 2

Please Read and Review.
I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it.

Notes:
The parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English.

Day Two After Return

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Commander Ikari's Office

"Physically, the Second Child is perfectly fine, but her mental state is conflictive, Commander Ikari." Dr. Akagi stated, her clipboard to her side. "I doubt she could even activate an Evangelion Unit at the time."

"Acceptable." He interlaced his fingers in front of his face, hiding his mouth.

"What's the status of the Fifth Child?" Professor Fujutsuki asked, from his usual place behind Commander Ikari

"Unsettled. Horaki and Soryu are close friends, and the news that Horaki will be upgraded to fully active status, replacing the Second Child were not well received by either of them."

"Make sure Horaki understands her responsibility as a Pilot. In the meanwhile, SEELE is demanding to debrief the Second Child about her experience in Unit-02's core. Can she answer the Committee's questions?"

"Yes, though it won't help with her mental health in the long run."

"Wouldn't it be better to let her recover for a little while? Two weeks inside an Evangelion core can't be good for mental health."

"Irrelevant. Prepare her for debriefing in the Holochamber."

"Yes, sir."

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Commander Ikari's Office
(Spiritual Plane)

"GOD-DAMMIT, GENDO!" Deadman shouted, unheard by anybody except his companion. He made a visible effort to calm himself, and turned towards the Phantom Stranger. "So, what's the plan, partner?" The wandering ghost paced around the room, still gesticulating furiously.

"I had hoped to wait for a better moment to contact Miss Soryu. And it is clear she still has the unwelcome attention of one of the Endless. Time will be limited."

"As always. It's the one with the hooks, right? This stinks to her favorite ploys, wait for a big blow and then go for the heart." Deadman sighed, his anger receding for the moment. In life, he had always been mercurial with his emotions, even more so in death, lacking a physical way to express them. But he had also found himself in need of a tighter control. His anger was certainly not spent, but after venting it, it had congealed into a slow-burning emotion. His thought and actions would be under his control.

"Please go and appraise Shinji of the situation. If Miss Horaki is with him, inform both."

"The kid is going to go ballistic." Deadman noted, raising a finger.

"Make sure he understand the situation. Miss Soryu will need his, and our support."

Tokyo-3, Japan
Katsuragi-Ikari Apartment.
Living Room

"That's the situation." Major Katsuragi let herself plop on the sofa, making it creak. Pen-Pen peeked out his cold room, and squawked. "Asuka is off the roster, until she's cleared back for duty, and Hikari will be piloting Unit-02."

Hikari's hand covered her mouth as she gasped. "But she's fine! She was perfectly fine when she came back!" She said.

Shinji leaned forward. "Commander's orders." He almost spit out the words, but managed to control himself. "Asuka must be in shock…" he looked around, as if searching for something Misato couldn't guess what it was. His fists opened and closed alternatively, with the regularity of a metronome, his breathing was ragged and his face flush with anger.

Suddenly, Misato went rigid, and her voice changed in tone and rhythm. "Hey, kid. Boston here. You two okay?"

Shinji relaxed partially, relieved at the presence of the ghostly visitor. "Yes, Boston-san." He turned to Hikari for a moment, who looked very disconcerted. "It's just not fair!" He punched his palm in impotent anger.

Alarmed, Hikari whispered at her fellow pilot. "Shinji? What happened to Major Katsuragi? It's almost as if she was another person."

"She is another person, or to be precise, he is." Shinji nodded, stress falling off his face. "This is Deadman, he's a ghost who kinda hijacks people's bodies for a while. He's on our side. And if he's here openly, something must have happened."

"Right on one, Buddy. Miss, you can call me Boston if you want." Deadmisato smiled. "Commander Badshave is tightening the screws to screw things up. Red will need help. The Stranger has a plan, one of his little strolls thru time and space."

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Hospital Wing.

"We don't have much time, Miss Soryu." The Phantom Stranger spoke softly in the color-washed hospital room.

"Leave me alone." She whined. "I just lost Mama again!"

"Asuka… Sugar…" Shinji didn't know why, but she perked a little at hearing that pet name, "We want to help you and your Mama, but we can't just surrender to despair!"

"Don't say that name!" She hissed, looking around.

"She is right, Shinji. Names have power, and the Endless are watching. So far two of them are sympathetic to our efforts, but two at least, are not." He waved his hands for a moment, something flashed on Asuka's chest, a dark glow that seemed to suck the light of the room. "He too is right, Miss Soryu. The one who almost claimed your Mother before has now claimed your heart. Her hook is taking root in your heart. Unless you reject it, and soon, it will ruin you completely."

Hikari took Asuka's hand in hers, a gesture of support. "What can we do?" She looked at the Stranger.

"You are not the first to be targeted by her, Miss Soryu. I myself have been in her clutches. For centuries, until somebody else showed me the way." He hung his head in remembrance. "I was once just a man, who in his grief, committed a terrible sin. I sought for redemption for a very long time." (1) He shook his head. "However, this is not the time to share that story, as I freely accept it took me too long to find my way. Instead, I'll show you the story of three heroes who were targeted by her. She tried to ensnare each one of them, but they prevailed. Even the one who fell the furthest is now rejecting her chains."

"But you beat her! I heard you fighting!" (2) Asuka protested, "I don't have your kind of power!"

"It's not simply a matter of power, Miss Soryu. Even the most powerful being can succumb to her, and even the most helpless creature can escape her grasp. It's a matter of will, of hope, as I once told you; of finding a way back into the light. You showed your Mother the way to return to herself. All I did was to give you the time you needed. Allow me to show you the stories of some of those who faced her. Three heroes who fell prey to Her at one point of their lives. One in loneliness, one in mourning, and one in outrage. One took refuge in madness, the second in exile, and the third in anger."

Asuka nodded shyly, closing her hands around Shinji and Hikari's.

The Stranger waved his hand, and the hospital room vanished. Asuka floated down to the ground. Her hospital gown changing into her school uniform.

"Where are we now?" She asked. They were standing on a desert of red sands. The sky above was dark as if it was night, but the Sun shone over their heads.

"Ma'aleca'andra." Hikari whispered. "This is Mars. Thousands of years ago. I… I dreamt this place. Empty. Except for one god." She turned to Asuka, "He told me to ask you about the two houses and the master of dreams he said you and your mother met."

Asuka looked around before answering. "The House of Secrets, and the House of Mysteries. I met their caretakers, Abel and Cain, and their Master." She looked down. "Abel and Cain told me a story each. One that was only for me, Abel's story had a secret I will keep, and the one Cain told me is a mystery that I won't understand. Their master called himself… by two names, one that I won't speak aloud, and also as Lord..." She looked at the Stranger, who nodded. "Lord Daniel, he is the one humans meet, sometimes."

The Stranger continued, speaking softly, "Lord Daniel is one of the Endless. Powerful entities that embody seven primordial aspects of the universe. They are intrinsic to the universe and life in it. Some of them came into the universe from the very beginning, while others appeared along with life, and others waited for the emergence of sentient life."

"I won't use their names, but describe their roles. The Keeper of Fate, the Witness of Beginning and Ending, the Master of Dreams, the One who Left His Post, They Who Want, She of the Decay, and the Child of Madness, who once was the Child of Joy. (3)." He paused, hesitant to continue, "The Witness and the Lord of Dreams seem to be on our side, but won't involve themselves directly. She of the Decay opposes us, while the Child of Madness is too fickle to be predictable. The others' intentions are beyond my knowledge. The Keeper of Fate is usually neutral."

Hikari sighed, "The Lord of Dreams told me he has multiple aspects, and I dreamed him as a Martian god. I'm supposed to give him a purpose."

"Will he help us?" Shinji asked, "I mean, as a Martian god."

The Stranger shook his head, "it's better not to count on the Endless being on our side, they are… complicated. There are times their varied aspects conflict with each other." He pointed away, to a figure walking heavily towards them. "Our time is short, let's begin."

"That's the Martian Manhunter!" Shinji exclaimed. "Kami above… what happened to him?"

"His heart is broken." Hikari whispered, "I dreamed his home. It was horribly empty, I felt an overwhelming sadness that wasn't mine."

"Once, thousands of years ago, Mars was home to two civilizations. The bellicose White Martians, and the peaceful Green Martians. Eventually, the Whites were exiled. The Greens retreated into their culture, and they knew peace for a long time. But eventually, the seed of their fall took root. A hateful renegade. A genocidal monster. Ma'alefa'ak, twin brother of J'Onn J'Onnz. Full of anger and hate, he created a telepathically contagious plague, one that exploited the Martian weakness to fire by filling their minds with images of fire so powerful their bodies were consumed by real fire. And having been deprived of telepathy and even his memories on account of previous transgressions, Ma'alefa'ak himself was immune." (4)

"As we see him now, J'Onn J'oonz has just realized the depths of his loneliness. He has just fought and defeated Ma'alefa'ak, believing him dead. In his heart, he is the last Martian. The only survivor of Hronmeer's Plague. He has walked for days, while She of the Decay has sunk her hook into his soul. He is now lost in his madness and loneliness. To cope with his loss, he pretends. He changes his shape into the likeness of his dead friends, acquaintances, but especially, his family."

The Green Martian sat on the sand, morphing his left hand into a small head and two arms, like a bizarre puppeteer. His right hand changed into a different shape.

Hikari wept openly, falling to her knees. "His family… those are his wife and daughter…" Asuka followed her, her eyes wide with horror and her right hand clutching her chest. The left hand groping blindly until she found Shinji's, gripping it like a lifeline.

"He is lost in madness." The Stranger said softly. "A toy for the entertainment of She of the Decay. Not even I can know how long he wandered the dead planet. Until a blinding light hit him, and brought him to Earth." The Stranger waved a hand and the image changed.

Now they were in a cluttered laboratory, full of strange-looking machines. At the center, there was a round platform, and next to it, an old man with wild white hair and mustache, his eyes protected by goggles and his white lab coat flapping in the wind. "This is Saul Erdel, a man who could be thought of as a mad scientists, except that he was a gentle man."

A tall and skinny green body appeared on the platform, to the amazement of the old man. But before he could do anything, something exploded, and all three pilots jumped forward in immediate action.

They stopped themselves, there was nothing they could do. They were in a memory.

The place became a roaring inferno, and the Martian at the center howled in fear. "There was no equivalent to Hell in the Martian culture. The closest would be another of their gods, Hronmeer, god of Fire, death and rebirth (5), another aspect of the Witness. Surrounded by fire, J'Onn believed himself inside Hronmeer's belly. He tried to close his mind to the all-consuming fire, but it wasn't until he heard a weak plea for help that he snapped from his fugue." Horrified, they saw the flesh of the Martian melt like wax.

"(…Help…)" Professor Erdel's voice begged weakly, pinned to the floor by a fallen wall.

Suddenly, the Martian closed his eyes, and his body changed, assuming a powerfully muscled body, the shape he wore as a member of the Justice League. Instead of the slender, elongated green body, now stood a tall figure with a rounded head and protruding brow. A blue cloak hung at his back, along with a pair of boots and trunks the same color, and two red bands crossing over his chest, like an "X".

The Martian wrapped his cloak around himself and jumped through the fire, his face a mask of pain and determination. "In his efforts to save a dying human, J'Onn J'Onnz found the will to cast off the mark of She of the Decay."

Unnoticed in the roaring inferno, a rusted hook fell to the ground, and was consumed by the fire, leaving nothing behind.

The Martian Manhunter, carrying Erdel, went through a wall, the current of air fanned the flames inside, and the building was soon burnt to ashes almost completely. Carefully, he lay down the wounded man on the ground. "Though he couldn't save Saul Erdel's life, J'Onn J'Onnz communicated telepathically with him, easing his last moments alive. And in doing so, he saved his own soul, for where he had been lost without a purpose, now J'Onn J'Onnz decided to protect this new world he found himself at."

Police cars and fire trucks arrived to the scene. "His curiosity was piqued when a police detective identified himself as John Jones. A curious coincidence, indeed. He decided to follow him, unseen and undetected, to learn more about Earth. But Jones life was cut short by corrupt policemen, working for a crime lord, and willing to kill Jones to keep him from testifying. And the Martian Manhunter decided to take Jones' place, and finish the dead man's last assignement. He swore to help protect and defend his new home." A succession of faces appeared before them, while the pilots stood up once again. "For years, the Martian Manhunter worked from the shadows, assuming the identities of people who died before their time."

"Hey!" Shinji pointed at a costumed figure, "that's the Bronze Wraith! He was a superhero back in the 1970s!"

"He was, yes." The Stranger said. "But he was laid down by one of his enemies, and made to forget who he was, what he was; for two years he was a homeless wanderer."

"When he recovered his memory, he returned. The last mission of the Bronze Wraith was to capture the same enemy, with the help of the Justice Society. After that, the Bronze Wraith disappeared, for J'Onn J'Onnz could not bear the pain associated to that identity (6). A few months after, he revealed himself to Superman first, and later on, to Batman. When the time came for a new generation of heroes, he was a founding member of the Justice League."

Hikari's voice broke when she asked, "Where is he now? Did he die?"

The Phantom Stranger waved a hand, and the group found themselves standing on a white void. "I do not know." He admitted. "He is not dead, I am sure of that, but I don't know where he is. Maybe he is in deep space, far from my senses."

Hikari bit her lip. "I… I will follow his path, if I can. Just like Supergirl did with Superman. When I'm ready, I will not let him to be forgotten." For a moment, her skin went pale, white as paper, and her cheekbones and chin sharpened, turning her face into a sharp rhomboid. She shook her head, and her features softened, her skin turning emerald green for a couple of seconds, her brown hair receded into a single top knot.

"You will need this." The Stranger extended a gloved hand, on his palm, rested a strange thing, that looked like a cross between a flower and and octopus with too many tentacles, or maybe roots. "This is a Zo'ok. A semi sentient symbiotic plant that can change its shape. It will be your friend, ally and protector."

Under Asuka and Shinji's gaze, Hikari took the Zo'ok into her hands. The tentacles wrapped playfully around her fingers. "When you are ready, ask him to bond with you. Ask your Father and Grandfather to tell you about the responsibilities that come with the bond."

"I will, thank you." Hikari held the flower reverently.

"I will now return you to your place, Miss Soryu. Our time runs short. We will continue as soon as I can find a breach in NERV's vigilance. Deadman or myself will keep watch over you in the meanwhile, though you won't see us. Keep hope alive in your heart."

Asuka nodded, and found herself back on the hospital bed. She closed her eyes, thinking about the life of the Martian Manhunter, and the sorrows he had suffered.

The door opened, and two unwelcome faces appeared. Commander Ikari and Dr. Akagi.

"The Committee will debrief you in fifteen minutes. Speak clearly and truthfully." He said.

Akagi put a plastic bag on the table. "Here are your clothes. Change quickly. They don't like to wait."

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Hospital Wing.
(Spiritual Plane)

"Damned Bond villains wannabes." Deadman growled, sitting Indian style over the lamp in the nightstand.

Author Notes:

1. Secret Origins issue 10 (Jan, 1987) in the story "Tarry Till I Come Again", first of the four possible origins given for the Phantom Stranger. He was a simple man called Isaac, living in Bethlehem. When King Herod ordered the massacre of the children, he los this son and wife. Bitter and resentful, he bribed a Roman soldier so he could take revenge on Jesus Christ. He was cursed to wander the Earth until Jesus returned. Eventually, after centuries of wandering, he decided to help humanity.

2. Back in chapter 73.

3. In order, Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium (formerly Delight).

4. The background of the Martian Manhunter was taken from the Ostrander and Mandrake run, published from Oct, 1998 to Nov, 2001.

5. Hronmeer is the Martian god of fire, death and artistic inspiration. And of course, he is an aspect of Death of the Endless

6. Martian Manhunter issue 20 (Jul, 2000), this was also the first chapter of the story-arc Revelations, that showed the early meeting of the Martian Manhunter with Superman, Batman, Green Lantern (Abin Sur, the predecessor of Hal Jordan), and the Spectre, plus a little apocryphal but funny story with the Justice League International.