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The Scarlet Tree	By : JLinz Category: DC Verse Comics >no category yet > no category yet Views: 1424 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics, Justice League or Martian Manhunter. I do not make any monetary value from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 1
- 2
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Warmth. He couldn’t help holding her close to his chest; she was so warm. Why did humans carry this warmth? He knew the answer to that, at least the scientific and biological answer. The real question was: why did it give him so much comfort? He didn’t know her. He could be evasive and find out everything he wanted to know about her in a matter of seconds. But it would be rude and uncalled for. Plus he had no true reason to do it. J’onn just… enjoyed her warmth.
When he arrived at the hospital, he decided against shifting into a human. He simply walked in, explained to the staff about the woman and left. As much as he wanted to stay, he couldn’t; there were more important things to do. One was to make sure the five hundred he left on the island received transportation. The other? To try to resolve the situation about the White Martians. J’onn told himself that maybe he would check back at the hospital to make sure the staff took care of her.
Earlier that day, an old friend of his asked for his help. Astronauts on a simple mission had not reported in for a couple of days. The first worry was something with the communication signals. He thought that it would be something resolved in a matter of minutes. But, when he found the shuttle with the headless members inside, he knew that it would not be a simple task.
What made him speechless: the White Martian in front of him. It knew his name, taunted him… told him about The Epiphany. Those words refreshed his memory; the real reason he arrived on Earth. To observe, to report… to destroy. J’onn only did the observation part of his mission; he never thought there would be someone who treated him as though he was human. Someone who taught him that rewards came to good people who did good things. For every bad act committed, five acts of righteousness countered it. He learned that the humans… weren’t as bad as they seemed.
From there, he learned all the Earth languages and their mannerisms. He did something he should’ve done a long time ago: he ignored the fate the White Martians put on him. He wanted to be a being full of compassion; a champion of justice. It’s what the planet really needed: more people to fight for the right cause.
J’onn assumed the White Martians forgot about him; that they had let him and the planet be. Little did he know that, like him, they assumed human identities and lived among the humans. That they were simply waiting on the right time to begin their own mission and try to get their weapon back: J’onn J’onzz.
What was stopping them from continuing their mission? It was him, he realized. The White Martian from the plane had said it. They didn’t want him; they needed him. He was the key. As he made his way into the NASA building, he came up with a solution: without him, they would fail.
“Helen Demoff…” he didn’t want to startle his old friend. But she jumped and turned away from the television. She knew something was wrong; the last time he called her by her full name, J’onn was learning the English language.
“J’onn!”
“… I need you to kill me…”

She woke with a start, surprised that she was able to wake at all! Melody slowly let her eyes adjust to the bright light and moaned.
“No… I really am dead!” she squinted. The rest of her senses kicked in and she realized she wasn’t dead at all. She was in a hospital bed. Melody furrowed her forehead, trying to recall the last thing she remembered. Red eyes. Green skin. Martian. Her slight smile turned into a frown.
Plane crash. Bombs. Stabbed. Evil old man… or whatever he was! She looked down at her stomach; her clothes were replaced with a hospital gown. She lifted it only to find a scar where a hole should’ve been. The Martian… saved her. She was alive; sore and tired but Melody cared little about that!
As she adjusted to everything, Melody realized a dilemma: she had no idea where she was. She groaned; everything of importance was on the plane! For all the hospital staff knew, she was a Jane Doe brought in by an enormous Martian in superhero garb! He wouldn’t have thought to grab her belongings, would he?
Someone entering the room startled her but she realized it was a nurse and calmed down. The woman’s eyes widened a bit before she gave Melody a smile.
“You’re up!” American, Melody sighed. At least she was back in the states, “We just finished running tests; the doctor will come in and talk to you.”
“Where… am I…?”
“D.C.”
“I’m… home…? He… how did he know whe…”
“He’s Martian Manhunter; he just… knows things.”
“That’s… kinda creepy…” Melody mumbled, “Martian Manhunter? That’s his alias? That’s so… campy…” she smirked. The nurse chuckled as she checked her blood pressure.
“If you see him again… you make sure to tell him that!” she teased. For some reason, it was enough to make her blush. Would she ever see him again? She would want to tell him thank you.
The doctor walking in interrupted her thoughts. Melody smiled at first until she noticed something was off about the man. He smiled when he glanced at her and looked down at his chart. But Melody didn’t see a man; only an outline of one. His face had warped into a hideous white creature with red, gleaming eyes. Its vertical mouth snarled, exposing sharp teeth covered in its saliva. Melody’s heart raced; what was going on? Why was she seeing such a sight?
No matter how many times she blinked or rubbed her eyes, the image was the same. She was frozen in fear as the doctor looked up at her; his face mixed with the horrible image she saw. She was so enthralled into her fear, Melody couldn’t hear her heart monitor machine that gave out warnings. Her eyes widened, and she clenched the sheets in her bed. What’s going on?! Why am I seeing this?! Am I dreaming… am I… dead?
The only response the nurse got out of Melody were raspy breaths. She couldn’t make sense of the rapid change but knew she had to calm the woman down. The only thing she thought of as she rushed out of the room: the Martian tampering with her maybe had some side effect. When she returned, she put a sedative in her IV. Melody relaxed as it kicked in and was soon asleep.

He showed disappointment that his friend neglected his wish. But, J’onn saw she proved a point. The matter had to be taken care of; his death only delayed the inevitable. The problem was he didn’t think there was much hope. The Justice League received his telepathic message about The Epiphany and his apology. They would be after him to question his loyalty… and he didn't know where he stood. The only thing for sure: he didn't care to be a weapon.
It was foolish, but he told himself he needed to check on the injured woman. The notion made him glad Helen didn’t go through with killing him. He couldn’t explain it but he had an urge to see the woman. Possibly to check on her well-being; she might wanted to thank him for saving her. Although she went through shock, it surprised him that she wasn’t afraid of him.
J’onn walked inside the hospital; he knew that he would get the stares but he ignored them. The medical receptionist had a friendly, familiar face and he welcomed the smile she gave him.
“You’re here to check on the woman you dropped off…”
“Yes. Melody Whitmore.” he hoped that she hadn’t left.
“Whitmore… there she is! They put her on the third floor, room twenty-three. Looks like she’s getting released soon.”
“Room twenty-three. Thank you.”
“You know… it would be quicker if you just… fly up there!”
“… It would. But this is more polite.”
Melody couldn’t wait to get back to her apartment. She learned how to ignore what she called “the visions”. She didn't want to become institutionalized! But she still saw them and they still haunted her whenever she went to sleep. At first, she thought it was just her doctor. But, it spread to others. She rationalized it back to the Martian. He had made her see those visions.
She tried not to worry about it as she sighed and packed. Her best friend came to visit and brought her comfortable clothes and toiletries. Her boss felt terrible about what happened to her and gave her a few days off work. Melody looked forward to even more rest. The onslaught of terrorist attacks that happened bothered her, especially when she found out they happened worldwide at the exact time. The targets were major embassies and famous landmarks. Melody felt awful for those who lost their lives but was glad no one she knew suffered.
A feeling interrupted her thoughts; she turned to look at who entered the room, surprised that Martian Manhunter stood in the doorway. Melody wanted to give him a friendly smile but “the vision” appeared. She tried to back away from him only to fall onto the bed. She scrambled up and had her back on the window. Melody knew that she shouldn’t be frightened; basic instincts made her flinch. Yet, the face she noticed was not as terrifying as the white monsters she'd seen during her hospital stay. It was just the simple fact she saw it within the Martian.
J’onn gave her a worried gaze; he didn’t think that she would cower in his presence. This was a different fear, he sensed.
“W-W-Why…? Why do I keep… seeing this?!” her breath left her. J’onn slowly approached her.
“What do you see?” he asked her. She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Mon-” no; it was wrong to call him that. Besides, his vision wasn’t hideous compared to the others. Was she seeing his true form, she wondered. Did that mean that the others she saw signified a non-human? It started to make sense as she opened her eyes, “… Alien. Your… true form? W-W-What did you do to me?!” her eyes widened as he came face-to-face with her. J’onn carefully placed his hands on her temples.
“You… can see my true form?”
“Please… just… make it stop…” she begged. She acknowledged sympathy as she noticed the sad red eyes.
“Am I the only one you see like that?”
“No. The others are white.” her words made his eyes widen, “W-What does that mean?”
“You have Martian vision…” he used his own to make sure she wasn’t Martian. He would’ve known if she was, especially when he saved her life.
“I have… what?! What does that even mean?!”
“That means you are able to see through a shape shifter’s façade. You can see their true form. You don’t have control over this power but if you calm down and focus, I can help.” he looked at her. It relieved J’onn she wasn’t Martian but there was something else about her. He would dwell on it later, he told himself as he concentrated on the woman.
Melody gave out a sigh and nodded as he pressed tight on her temples. It forced her to look at him and she took that opportunity to study him. His eyes were positioned more outward with a lean, oval shape. His mouth was horizontal just like the white creatures but he showed no snarl. The Martian’s expression was that of eerie sadness; it made her calm down even more.
Once she did, she noticed that there were two faces, two forms. The eyes came together to what she would call a normal position and the mouth faded. As she took deep breaths, the only thing she saw was his “normal” face. She blinked and narrowed her eyes; his true form tried to reappear. But when she lightly shook her head, it disappeared. Melody found a focal point. His true form, along with the white creatures, did not have a nose!
She subconsciously reached out and traced the outline of his nose. He was a shape shifter; why did he choose such a wide nose, she wondered. The shape wasn’t unattractive; it just made her curious. J’onn wrinkled his brow at the sensation in his stomach. Even her fingertips gave him comfort. He didn’t know why he felt that way; he gave her a small smile.
“I will take that as you have calmed your mind.” his voice made her retract her hand. She sensed the start of a blush spreading across her cheeks as he removed his hands.
“T-Thanks. Yeah. So… how do I have Martian vision? And does that mean the people I’ve seen are those white creatures in disguise? What are they?”
“You have a lot of questions, which you should. Perhaps this is not the right place to discuss things. Are you waiting for a ride?”
“N-No. I was going to call a cab. Are you offering to take me home?”
“If you didn’t mind. It may be the safest place. It is your home; you are likely more comfortable there.”
“That is true. But once we get there, you have to tell me everything!”

Melody felt self-conscious as she let the Martian inside her apartment. She kept it somewhat tidy, but this was a new guest. She started to see many things wrong as she made her way into her bedroom.
“Uh… I would say make yourself at home but, yeah. Make yourself comfortable, I guess?”
“That is appreciated; thank you.” although he was in the living room, his voice boomed throughout the entire place. Melody put her bag away and went back into the living room. The Martian wasn't there, and it made her worry.
“Um…” she hit a brick wall; calling him Martian Manhunter seemed too formal for her!
“Yes?” his voice came from the kitchen. She watched him curiously from the entrance as he rummaged through her cabinets.
“Is this one of your Martian habits; going through cabinets?”
“You said to make myself comfortable. Right now, I am in the mood for cookies, which fills me with comfort.”
“Normal people would park their butts on the couch!” when she realized what she said, Melody became flustered. A rather large Martian was standing in her kitchen; he was beyond normal! She smirked as she found the package of cookies, “All you had to do was ask, Mr. Manhunter…”
“… My friends call me J’onn.”
“A formal introduction! I’m Melody… which… you probably already know!” she narrowed her eyes at him and guarded the cookies. He gave her a surprised yet hurt look.
“I assure you that I don’t make it a habit of reading minds or gathering information unknowingly. You were unconscious, however…” he stopped his explanation when she started to laugh.
“Just giving you a hard time! Thanks for saving me, by the way…” she offered the cookies. J’onn took a few and nodded.
“It is what I do. I couldn’t possibly leave someone to die. But you’re very welcome, Melody.”
“Alright. Now that we’re both more comfortable…”
“The white creatures that you’ve seen are White Martians. We’re almost the same except they are more… volatile.”
“Why haven’t I seen any like… you?”
“I am the last Green Martian.” he answered somberly. Melody let out a gasp and covered her mouth.
“I’m… I’m so sorry!”
“It’s quite alright. You didn’t know. You’ve probably heard about the terrorist attacks.”
“Ye… oh, don’t tell me… the White Martians did all that?!”
“Yes. It’s part one of the invasion.” his words made the blood drain from her face. She suddenly remembered what the old man had told her after he stabbed her. He was one of the ones who would help take over her planet. She didn’t imagine his words; an invasion was going to happen!
“Oh, my God…” her knees weakened. J’onn steadied her as her brown eyes watered, “Oh… my… God! W-Why didn’t you just… let me… die…?”
“Because I will help stop it. And now it seems that I will need your help in doing so.”
“… What…?” she blinked at him.
“You’ve acquired one of my abilities. I plan to find out how. But I will not ignore fate.”
“… Fate? But… what can I do? I-I-I-I’m useless…”
“You are not useless. I will train you. But it will be strenuous; we don’t have much time. First, we need to find out how you have Martian vision.”
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The Scarlet Tree