Chapter 37: Seeking the Paragons & Martian Memories
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Objective: Locate the first Paragon (J'onn J'onzz). Sub-objective: Adam leverages Kryptonian Data Crystal knowledge to gain trust. Primary Skill Acquisition Target: Emotion Lock-on: J'onn J'onzz (Empathy/Telepathy/Shapeshifting). Emotional Triggers: Trust, Empathy, Shared Burden. ]
The Waverider, a tiny speck against the backdrop of collapsing universes, was an island of improbable survival. Inside, the silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of the ship's temporal engines and the occasional choked sob from a civilian refugee being tended to by Caitlin Snow, who had chosen to stay with the Legends. Barry Allen and Cisco Ramon, still reeling from the destruction of their Earth-1, looked lost, their usual vibrant energy replaced by stunned exhaustion.
Adam, however, was a pillar of grim resolve. His Time Travel Awareness (now 100% mastered) was a constant, overwhelming flood of information—the echoes of dying realities, the subtle shifts in the quantum fabric, the desperate cries of billions. He processed it all, filtering it through his Kryptonian Data Crystal (now 95% near-mastery), which offered ancient prophecies and cosmic diagrams of the multiverse. He was the only one who truly grasped the sheer, horrifying scale of the Anti-Monitor's assault.
"We don't have much time," Adam stated, his voice cutting through the despair. He stood before the main console, projecting a holographic map of the dwindling multiverse. Streaks of red anti-matter pulsed across it, swallowing more and more Earths. "The Monitor's last message, those coordinates… they're pointing to the remaining stable realities. And more importantly, to the Paragons."
Rip Hunter, still grappling with the concept of multiversal annihilation, looked at Adam. "Paragons, Mr. Stiels? What exactly are they? Some form of ultimate weapon?"
"Not weapons, Captain," Adam corrected, tapping a point on the holographic map – Earth-38, a verdant world still glowing with life. "They are individuals. Beings of immense power, yes, but more importantly, of immense moral fortitude. Of pure essence. They are, essentially, cosmic anchors. Their existence, their specific qualities, are vital to creating the new multiverse, should we fail to stop the Anti-Monitor from destroying this one."
Sara Lance, ever practical, crossed her arms. "So, who's first on this cosmic scavenger hunt?"
Adam's finger hovered over Earth-38. "The Monitor's data pointed to a 'Paragon of Courage' on this Earth. And my Data Crystal cross-references that with a specific individual: J'onn J'onzz. The Martian Manhunter."
Barry's head snapped up. "J'onn? He's on Kara's Earth. But... what makes him a Paragon?"
"His empathy, his resilience, his ability to bridge worlds and minds despite immense personal loss," Adam explained, recalling the Martian lore stored within his Crystal. "He embodies a unique form of courage – the courage to live, to connect, to lead, even after witnessing the destruction of his entire race. My 'network' suggests he may be grappling with a personal crisis, a memory, a burden that holds him back. We need to help him overcome it."
"Help him overcome it?" Ray asked, bewildered. "We're facing the end of all reality, and we're stopping to be a cosmic therapist?"
"Yes, Dr. Palmer," Adam said, his gaze unwavering. "Because the strength of these Paragons is tied to their inner balance. If J'onn is compromised, his courage may not shine when it's most needed. Besides," Adam added, a flicker of his old self returning for a brief moment, "my 'network' indicates that Martians, while incredibly powerful, can be a tad emotionally repressed. A good cosmic pep talk might be exactly what's required."
They arrived on Earth-38, materializing the Waverider discreetly in a remote, mountainous region. Gideon's scans immediately picked up a powerful psychic signature emanating from a secluded cave.
"He's here," Adam confirmed. "And his mental state is... complex. Lots of unresolved emotional echoes. Primarily guilt. And a deep, abiding loneliness."
As they approached the cave, the air grew heavy with a palpable sadness. J'onn J'onzz was there, not in his Human form, but in his true Martian appearance, a towering green figure, meditating by a small, flickering fire. His eyes were closed, and psychic images flickered around him, visible only to Adam and Gideon: fragmented memories of a burning Mars, of his family, of the loved ones he couldn't save.
"He's reliving his past," Adam whispered, his voice tinged with unexpected empathy. "He's trapped in a loop of guilt over his inability to save his family. It's weakening his connection to his own courage."
Rip stepped forward, but Adam put a hand on his arm. "Let me. He'll be wary of strangers."
Adam walked towards J'onn, slowly, deliberately. The other Legends watched, mesmerized. When he was a few feet away, Adam knelt, not in subservience, but in shared understanding. He didn't speak English. Instead, he spoke in a language no one else understood, rich with resonant tones and clicks – Martian.
"J'onn J'onzz, Son of Ma'aleca'andra," Adam began, his voice surprisingly melodic in the alien tongue. "I am Adam Stiels, from beyond the stars, a traveler of the timelines. I bring you not war, but a warning. The ancient prophecies of the Grand Elder, of the Consuming Shadow, are upon us. The Anti-Monitor consumes all. But even in the face of oblivion, there is hope. And that hope... lies in your courage, your resilience. The courage to truly forgive yourself."
J'onn's eyes snapped open, blazing with a mix of shock and profound recognition. He looked at Adam, then at the other Legends, his psychic presence washing over them – a wave of surprise, followed by a deeper curiosity. "You speak... J'onn felt a resonance. My tongue. My past. How...?"
"My 'network' is exceptionally thorough in its linguistic studies," Adam replied, switching back to English, but keeping his voice gentle. "And in its appreciation for the noble history of your people, J'onn. I know of the Green Flame, of the telepathic song of your ancestors. I know of the burdens you carry. The guilt of survival. But the survival was not a failure; it was a promise. A promise to carry the light of Mars forward. Your family would not wish you to be consumed by sorrow, but by purpose."
J'onn looked at Adam, then at the flickering psychic images of his past, which seemed to intensify. "The burden... it is too heavy. I saw them perish. I felt their final thoughts."
"And you survived," Adam countered, his voice firm but compassionate. "Not by chance, but by destiny. You are a sentinel, J'onn. A protector. Your courage is not just the absence of fear, but the strength to face fear, to face loss, and still choose to fight. To choose connection. To choose life. The universe needs that courage now, more than ever. Your people, in their final moments, would have wanted you to live, to protect. Not to mourn alone."
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Trust/Empathy/Purpose (J'onn J'onzz). His personal crisis is resolving. He is ready to embrace his role. Paragon of Courage identified. ]
J'onn slowly rose to his full height. The psychic images around him, instead of fading, coalesced into a single, radiant image of his Martian family, smiling, not with sorrow, but with pride. The oppressive sadness lifted. His powerful telepathic presence, now clear and resolute, washed over the Legends, filling them with a quiet strength.
"You speak truths, Adam Stiels," J'onn said, his voice deep and resonant. "Truths I had forgotten. My guilt had blinded me. But you... you have seen beyond it. You remind me of the Green Flame, the hope within." He looked at the other Legends. "You seek to save all realities? Then my courage is yours. The universe calls. I answer."
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Lock-on: J'onn J'onzz (Empathy/Telepathy/Shapeshifting). Proficiency Upgrade: J'onn J'onzz (Empathy/Telepathy/Shapeshifting) 10%. Your shared wisdom forged a new connection. Your understanding of psychic abilities begins. ]
Adam felt a subtle, mental expansion, a faint echo of J'onn's vast telepathic abilities. It wasn't the power itself, not yet, but the understanding of it, the resonance of mental communication, of emotional connection. He now had the key to unlocking the Martian's immense abilities.
"Welcome, J'onn J'onzz," Adam said, a genuine, if still grim, smile touching his lips. "The multiverse needs its Paragons. And you, Martian Manhunter, are a beacon of courage in the coming darkness. Next stop: Earth-1. The Anti-Monitor is already there."
The urgency in Adam's voice was palpable. They had found their first Paragon. But the war had just begun.
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