Hopeless, Part 1

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 One After Return

Smallville, Kansas; USA
Kent Farm
Kitchen Table

"(So I huffed, and puffed, and blew a layer of codes.)" A digital teenager spoke from the corner of the laptop screen. Most of the screen showed rapidly changing code. "(But there's a loooot of firewalls! It's like they don't want me to visit their uttermost dark secrets! The audacity! The nerve! The work I need to do!)"

Barbara Grayson nodded. "(You did well, Channelman. We are closer to cracking the codes.)"

The blonde teenager flickered into a WWII USA General's uniform. ")"The soldiers are ready for battle, Commander! Just give the order and I'll throw a fully equipped army of teddy bears with cork shotguns at those damned villains!)"

"(Just keep on working on those codes, Channelman.)"

The kid changed again, now into stereotypical nerd attire, white shirt with pocket protector, thick glasses, and braces. "(We are working on it!)" He said, almost stuttering, before changing to a ninja, "(But we will find a way to infiltrate into the shogun's fortress, Master! So swears the Channel Clan!)"

The conference window closed. Barbara sighed. Even with a literal living hacker program, NERV codes were still resisting their efforts, those German MAGI were really well protected. Dick raised his eyes from his own computer. "(Yeah, these are really tough nuts to crack, Babs, but we have the resources and the skill.)"

She shrugged. "(From what I can see, the codes are incorporating even Apokoliptian tech. I doubt Darkseid is involved with this, but one of his minions might. Virmin Vundabar (1) or Dr. Bedlam (2) are the most probable candidates I have.)"

"(I don't think so. Both have been sighted in the Vega System. According to Adam Strange, Kory fought Vundabar two years ago, and Bedlam was captured a month ago, by the Space Cabbie (3), if you can believe it...)" He tapped the surface of the table, "(Might be one of their minions, though. Or maybe SEELE has access to the tech. Many agents of Darkseid have been captured ever since he began to meddle with our world, and not all the tech has been recovered by the good guys.)"

Sue Dibny poured herself a cup of tea, "(Why are you working on the German MAGI? Isn't Japan where things will go south?)"

Barbara sighed, "(Yes, but Germany is SEELE's HQ, that's where the big plans are taking form. Dick found something about a top secret project related to cloning Angels; SEELE used some genetic material taken from Adam to make a clone, but we havent found much about it.)"

"(We suspect there are some old supervillains working there. Not all of them blew up with the Secret Society of Supervillains. A few were not present when their satellite base detonated.)"

"(Gorilla Grodd was one of the few we've identified. He has been busy in Gorilla City, Second Impact didn't do any favors to Africa. Not even Gorilla City was safe. He is smart enough to make functional clones, but wouldn't be caught dead collaborating with dirty stinking humans. And he has spent the time rebuilding his power base. Solovar's death in the Great Crisis was a big blow to the good guys there. Killer Croc (4) took over a cartel in Mexico, Calculator (5) is a mercenary hacker. The Joker took most of the Bat-Family Rogues Gallery with him.)"

"(Well, maybe you should try at some other place, maybe find a back-door or some other way in.)" Sue offered. Dick and Barbara exchanged a look.

"(You know, that's not a bad idea. Channelman is very good at hacking, but so are Oracle and Delphos. Let's focus a while on NERV USA, Dick.)"

"(NERV Nevada went poof a while ago. There's nothing there anymore. So Massachusetts it is.)" He cracked his knuckles, and winced at the sudden stab of pain in his elbow. A reminder of the reasons for his retirement as a costumed hero.

"(Do you want another hand at this?)" Sue asked. "(I know a certain accountant who happens to be very good at forensic accounting.)"

Both heroes perked up. "(Who?)"

"(A friend from the JLI days. He's a obsequiosly sarcastic little guy, but he has kept Planet Krypton from bankruptcy for years. And he manages almost all of Max's portfolio. And mine too, my net worth went up 13% since I hired him.)"

"(You mean..?)" Dick Grayson asked, raising an eyebrow. "(Him?)"

"(Him.)" Sue nodded.

Dick whistled. "(I'll check with Max.)"

"(I think it will be better if I do. I've known him for far longer than you two. Heck, he is Diana's godfather.)" She paused, "(On second thought, I'll go get Diana and then I'll ask him. )"

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Dr. Akagi's Office

"Every reading on every test we've done yields the same result. The Second Child is in perfect health." Dr. Akagi said, checking her clipboard. "Even better than her last physical exam. There were signs of slight stress in the bones, and minor muscular lesions before. After her stay in the core of Unit-02 for two weeks, each and every sign of physical and emotional stress is gone." She shook her head. "It would be the perfect panacea if it wasn't so difficult to induce. I wouldn't risk entering the core of an Evangelion."

"I see." Commander Ikari said from behind his interlaced fingers. "Can the extraction procedure be repeated?"

"Unknown, Commander." Dr. Akagi clenched her teeth. She knew perfectly what, and who, he meant. His precious Yui. How could she compete with a ghost? "We don't know all the variables. For all we know, it could be that Pilots Soryu and Horaki are compatible for a three way synch with Unit-02's core, and that they couldn't repeat the experience. Even with Unit-02 itself. I am not sure we could repeat the procedure successfully."

"Has Pilot Horaki been examined?"

"Only passive scans and analysis. After Soryu's recovery, Horaki reported extreme fatigue and asked to be allowed to sleep. We took blood samples and we're about to start a MRI scan when she fell asleep. We proceeded anyway, obviating the interactive part of the scan. All results are consistent with fatigue and sleep. I expect she will wake up by herself once she has enough rest. Apparently 'guiding' Soryu back was mentally exhausting. She's showing brain activity corresponding to oníric activity. Leaning to the extreme, but still within clinically normal parameters."

"Interesting but useless. Keep her under observation. No intrusive actions."

"Understood."

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Dr. Akagi's Office
Spiritual Plane

Deadman watched with clear curiosity. "So the little Martian girl is playing at Sleeping Beauty, uh? I wonder what is she dreaming about?"

The Dreaming
(Light sleep area, Hikari Horaki/H'Karii H'Rakki Dreamscape)

"Hello? Is anybody here?"

Hikari looked around, watching a desolate extension of red sands and sharp rocks, under a black sky full of stars. Over her, a distant Sun shone bright but small.

A deep, rumbling voice answered, "Welcome to Ma'aleca'andra, Dawnstar FiveBlades." Hikari turned around, to face something that looked like a strange black skull, with long and pointy teeth, wreathed in flames, it was as big as she was. "The world you call Mars. Once home to the two Martian races, now nothing but a ruin."

Hikari watched in fascination at the skull, feeling herself almost losing her mind in the flames. The apparition narrowed its eyes. "This form you wear is and is not your own, child of Ma'aleca'andra, born and raised in Per'elandra (6). Show your true self."

"This is who I am!" Hikari protested. "I am not a… well… I am a white Martian, but first and foremost, I am Hikari Horaki, born on Earth! Who are you? What do you want?"

The skull seemed to smile benignly, quite a feat for a face full of teeth sharp as daggers. "I am one of the gods of old. Lord L'Zoril, god of dreams and language (7). And what I want, child of Mars and Earth, is simple. I want to be again."

"Wait." Hikari shook her head. "I don't understand."

"The explanation is complex, but in short, the peoples of Ma'aleca'andra worshipped this aspect of mine. The greens are gone, except for one, who doesn't remember; and the whites, who wouldn't care if they could remember. Ma'aleca'andra is dead now, but it will live again (8). However, the people who will come here will do so in ignorance. They will bring their own gods with them. I do not wish to be forgotten, I wish to stand guard once again, to protect the dreams of my people, Ma'aleca'andra's people. Nothing more. Eternity without purpose is torture. Whithout my people, I do not have a purpose." The skull turned around. "And you don't have a god. Not a proper god. Not a god of your people." Hikari felt… sad…

"Do I really have to worship you? Will you force me to do that?"

L'Zoril laughed softly. "No. My previous aspect would have demanded worship and adoration (9). This new aspect won't do so. I just want for you to know who and what I am, what Ma'aleca'andran culture was, both white and green. I want you to know the old stories, the old rites, the old traditions Ma'aleca'andra once had. To remember, and to pass them on to the next generations, when the time is right."

Hikari knelt on the red sand, not in worship, she was sitting down as if about to serve tea. "I'll need to think about it, ask my Father and Grandfather advice."

"That is a tradition I greatly value. Respect for your elders." The skull shrank until it was the size of a human skull. "In the meanwhile, you are in my realm, in a small shard that belongs only to you. You can go to wherever you want, do whatever you want. This is the place only you can enter, the fortress of your soul. Go and explore, if you want. Be what your body knows you can be, there's nobody here to judge you but yourself."

"You are here."

"Dear child, I AM here. I am this place. This place is a part of me, a part of my realm. Every night, when you sleep, you come here and shape this shard into whatever your soul decides it is. Eternal and ever changing."

L'Zoril turned around, "Your friend, the one you risked so much for, she knows another aspect of me, the one who watches over your world of birth. She wouldn't recognize me in this form, for the dreams she dreams are of Per'elandra, and the aspect of me she knows is very different, one who is better suited to the dreams of humans than I am, just as I am better suited for the dreams of Ma'aleca'andrans than he is. We are both distinct and the same. Ask her about the two houses and the master of dreams she and her mother met."

"I'll leave you to your thoughts and dreams, H'Karii H'Rakki." He said as he disappeared. "Dream of red sands and black skies, and your place among the stars."

Hikari laid down on the red sand, feeling the planet in the deepest of her soul, looking up to the sky and the stars, and slowly, she relaxed into her Martian form. The white body was full of strength and vitality, but also of instincts bred into her bloodline by thousands of years of war and violence. "This is not my way." She whispered. H'Karii stood up, went back to being Hikari, and walked towards a building carved from the side of a small hill.

"Who lived here?" She said reverently. It was clearly a house, for she recognized small implements that were common in Earth, spoons, dishes and bowls. But there were many other things she couldn't recognize, small abstract sculptures, perhaps? One of them was almost recognizable, a portrait of a family, carved from green stone. It was lovingly worked, there was a tall individual, embracing two other, more delicate, judging from their sizes, she thought they were a couple and their child. Their bodies were generally human shaped, but their limbs were too long and thin, and their heads were almost conical.

A deep sense of loss and sadness filled Hikari's heart. She sat down on a stool, looking around the place. Eventually, another sculpture captured her attention.

It represented a tall male, closer to the human form, unlike the family portrait, this sculpture was made with different colored materials. Green, red, blue and white stones, carefully cut and assembled.

And it was somebody she recognized. She gasped when she realized who had lived here.

It was the Martian home of J'Onn J'Onnz, the Martian Manhunter.

Startled by the revelation, Hikari Horaki opened her eyes, and awoke.

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Dentist Office

"Perfect!" The dentist said, "No trace of any infection or any other problem, Shinji. We're done for today. You are officially cleared to resume physical exercises. Stick to light workouts for this week, come to see me in eight days, and we'll see if you can go back to normal training. If you feel pain or notice bleeding, come immediately. Though I doubt you'll have any problems, cicatrization has been very fast and healthy." (10)

Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Hospital Wing

"I have no idea what happened, Sir." Asuka said. "The last thing I remember clearly is fighting that bloated Angel and Shinji screaming about raising the ATF to full power. I did that, and that's it. Next thing I know, I'm naked in the plug with Hikari!" She paused, "Is Rei okay? I saw Shinji at the bridge, but Rei wasn't there."

Commander Ikari stood rigidly at the end of the room, one step ahead of Professor Fujutsuki. "Pilot Ayanami was standing on alert in Unit-01, in case Unit-02 went berserk. She has not been authorized to visit you."

"She sends her regards." Fujutsuki added, clearly enjoying Commander Ikari's annoyance.

"Thank you, Sir." Asuka nodded gracefully.

"The Committee will want to debrief you, as soon as possible. As soon as Dr. Akagi clears you."

"Yes, sir."

"Another thing. You are off the active roster while your pilot status is reviewed."

Asuka gasped in shock and horror. "…C-Commander?"

"Pilot Hikari will take your place in the meanwhile." Commander Ikari and Fujutsuki left the room before Asuka could get over the immediate shock.

For over ten years, piloting an Evangelion had been her Raison d'être, and now she had lost it. Her fists closed on the sheets in impotent fury. She felt as if something had punctured her heart. (11)

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

"Was that wise, Ikari?" Professor Fujutsuki asked once they were back in Ikari's Lair

"It was necessary. It's clear the Second and Third Child have bonded. Their efficiency in battle is too high to be allowed. The Endgame is closing, and having them be too assured of themselves would only harm the Escenario. Plus, I may need her to recover Yui."

"I hope you know what you're doing. According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, there are still four Angels left. What if we need an experienced pilot for one of the four?"

"Possible, but not too probable."

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

"Dammit, Gendo! You know piloting is everything for her!" Deadman stabbed his right index finger on Commander Ikari's chest, to absolutely no effect. "I'll have to add another stone to your tally, to bury you better! And you better believe I'll find a way to make you pay, you and your SEELE buddies!"

"Asuka Langley Soryu will have a different role to play, Deadman."

"Gaaah! Goddammit, Stranger! We talked about this! Put a bell or something!"

"Apologies, my friend."

"So, what do you have in mind? You always have a plan, don't you?"

"I try, yes. But I'm not omniscient."

"I bet you're vaccinated. Now spill."

Author Notes:

(1) Virman Bundabar debuted in Mr. Miracle issue 5 (Dec, 1971), with the title of Doctor, though he has claimed other titles, the most appropriate would be General, as he is in charge of Darkseid's Armies logistic and tactics. He modeled himself after the stereotypical Prussian army officers, demanding precision and efficiency of his subordinates. He is Malice Vundabar's uncle, though being Apokoliptian, they are not fond of each other in any significan way.

(2) Dr. Bedlam debuted in Mr. Miracle issue. 3 (Aug, 1971). He is basically a disembodied mind, and keeps a group of "puppet" bodies with basic intelligence around. Whenever he wants to do something directly, he occupies one of the bodies, much like Deadman does, but he is limited to his specially made puppets.

(3) Space Cabbie is one of those curiosities from DC's long history, he was the protagonist of one of those educational series published in the 1950s, where the heroes solved the problem in turn thanks to the application of Science. The original version was set in the future, in the XXIInd Century, and debuted in Mystery in Space issue 21 (Sept, 1954). Eventually, and without explanation, he showed up in the XXth Century, still working as a taxi driver in space. How did a humble space cab driver catch one of the most slippery characters in the whole DCU? SCIENCE!

(4) Killer Croc was originally a thug with an extreme case of psoriasis, that gave him the look of a reptile, he debuted in Detective Comics 523 (Feb, 1983). Later on, it was changed to a genetic mutation that actually turned him into a humanoid crocodile.

(5) Calculator debuted in Detective Cómics issue 463 (Sept, 1976). His original gimmick was based on the then recent introduction of portable electronic calculators. He wore a numeric keyboard on his chest, which he used to analyze his opponents and determine their weaknesses, and a countermeasure was created by the screen he wore on top of his head. The novelty passed, and he was forgotten until he was reinvented as a hacker, Oracle's evil counterpart.

(6) The Martian names for both Earth (Per'elandra), and Mars (Ma'aleca'andra) are an homage to C. S. Lewis space trilogy, though the original names are Perelandra and Malecandra. IIRC, the names were first introduced during John Ostrander's run in Martian Manhunter, back in the late 1990s.

(7) L'Zoril is one of the aspects of Dream, it was first shown in The Sandman issue 5 (May, 1989). In that first appearance, he claims only the title of God of Dreams. During the Ostrander and Mandrake run in Martian Manhunter, the concept of duality was introduced. In Martian culture, everything has a duality, gods always have two domains, and every adult green Martian has two professions. J'Onn J'Onnz is both a Manhunter (cop) and a philosopher. Back to L'Zoril, I chose to add languages as his second dominion.

(8) As shown in the DC One Million event. Martian Manhunter issue 1,000,000 (Nov, 1998) showed a thriving planet Mars, with J'Onn as the literal soul of the planet, much like Maya is the soul of the Earth.

(9) Morpheus was notoriously self-centered. This version of L'Zoril is connected to the current Dream, Lord Daniel.

(10) Shinji spent some time in Nanda Parbat, adding a bit to the time he has been healing. Another DC character, Velvet Tiger had the power to slip into a kind of time distortion, and spent so much subjective time in that state she grew several years older, by the time she was 12 years old, she had an extra decade of age.

(11) Not a heart attack, it's another thing.