Post by Wachter on Feb 3, 2017 9:10:33 GMT
Manila, Philippines. December 31, 1939
Alan Scott took a deep breath as he stepped off the ramp of the unmarked oil tanker on the docks of Manila. The air was thick and humid and held a scent that was characteristic to the harbor. It smelled of rotting fish, but contained a sweet smell like molasses that he could never seem to place. A scent he had never experienced on the docks of Gotham. Regardless of what it was, he was home and found himself unable to suppress a slight smile on his typically indifferent face.
His father, Reginald Scott had been appointed by President Warren Harding as Governor-General of the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands in 1921 when Alan was just six years old. He spent his formative years on the islands and despite being the only blonde haired, blue-eyed boy for thousands of miles, he never once felt isolated.
“You grew up here?” Alan’s traveling partner Jimmy asked with a quirk of his brow and an upturned nose.
Alan rolled his eyes. He had foreseen that this wouldn’t be up to his urbane companion’s standards. Even through the Depression, Jimmy had maintained a certain flair for the finer things in life that Alan had yet to extinguish as evidenced by dressing like he was an extra out of a Fred Astaire movie. Already, the couple was receiving strange looks from the passersby because of it.
“If I wanted comments I’d have brought my mother.”
“Oh come on Alan, don’t be such a stiff.” Jimmy wore a sly smile as he placed a hand lightly on Alan’s waist and Alan pulled away. His companion’s face fell. “Al, we’re a thousand miles from anyone who knows either of us, what the devil are you worried about?”
Alan shook his head, eyeing those who had the strength of spine to eye him back instead of look away in embarrassment. Back in the States he was a successful businessman and he didn’t get there because of his indiscretions. That wouldn’t change on the other side of the world in a foreign country. He was who he was. He loved who he wanted and as much as he loved this man at his side…
“Jim. We’re here for a specific reason. I have to find Molly before the Japanese do.” He’d said it enough times during the journey here that it had become an oath he recited in the quiet moments rare though they were around Jimmy.
Meng Manami, or Molly as Alan affectionately called her was his best friend and more growing up in the Philippines. He taught her English and she taught him a fair bit of Tagalog. She was the far better student. But even when they couldn’t communicate, she offered companionship in a way that no one else in Manila would. Well, they would… but he didn’t go out seeking it.
Alan took off at brisk pace away from the shore, towards the train station. Jimmy tried his best to keep up, but was unable to stay in stride. The blond man walked with a purpose that drove his every step. Jimmy began to huff and puff as he foolishly attempted to catch up with Alan’s longer and quicker steps.
“The Japanese… aren’t even… in the Philippines.” Jimmy exclaimed as he grabbed Alan by the shoulder forcibly. “You’re worried about nothing.”
“I hope so, Jimmy,” Alan nodded. “I hope so.”
The conversation fell between the two as the boarded a train that was headed directly for the Jungles of the Philippines. Molly and her family had lived well under Reginald Scott’s administration, but these were different times. Times that concerned Alan. Times that should concern all the American people and he had done his best back home to keep the word out, to call for action and support.
“So… what happens when we find her? Have you thought that far ahead?” Jimmy asked to break the silence as they found a pair of seats away from others and the scream of the engine signaled that they would soon be on their way.
“I have,” Alan nodded without an ounce of emotion on his stoic face. “I’m going to marry her and bring her back home with me. The Pacific is on the brink of war. Japan has already invaded China and Korea. The Emperor will not be blind to the Philippines’ natural resources. There’s just not enough time to go through the proper channels on this one.”
“And what does that mean for us?” Jimmy asked without a care as to who was listening. He didn’t bother to lower his voice when a couple a few seats ahead glanced back.
“James…” Things always got serious when he used the man’s proper name, “I am the CEO of Gotham Broadcasting Network and you are my personal assistant. There can’t be an us. I wish to God that things were different, but if we’re being honest, I’m already going to be taking enough heat just being in a mixed race couple, add the whole… other element to it, it becomes all too complicated.” Alan explained to his lover and closest friend. “I adore you, but we must tread carefully and with discretion.”
“I know, I know. It’s like you have that speech memorized at this point.” Jimmy crossed his arms and looked down at the floor, pouting yet his heart wasn’t completely in it. “Besides, even if I can’t compete with your first love, I’m still here for you. And I traveled half the world for her too.”
Alan smiled and put his hand on Jimmy’s thigh. “It’ll be...”
The train lurching forward cut off the blonde man. Not violently, but enough for them to notice. Alan looked out the window –the station was still there – and then turned to his companion “Did you feel that?”
Jimmy nodded right before the train lurched again, this time knocking several passengers from their seats. Alan instinctively stood up and began to move towards the front of the compartment. “Alan! Stay down.”
Suddenly, the train burst into flame accompanied by the sound of a massive explosion coming from the engine two cars a head of them. Alan lifted a woman up from the ground and began to bark orders on instinct. “EVERYONE! LUMAPAG ANG TREN!”
Alan ran to the door of the car and kicked it out with all of his might. He turned and looked back for his companion Jimmy, but didn’t see him anywhere. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he hoisted people out of the train door to safety.
Once most of the people who he felt needed more help were off the train, he began to look for his lover as the train continued to clear out. “Jim! Where are you!?”
He ended up back at the seats where they were sitting and saw the motionless Jimmy, heavy burns scarring his face on the floor of the car. “No! NO! Jimmy!”
Alan collapsed to where the body of his lover was and cradled it in his arms. “No, Jimmy. Come back. Please come back. Not like this! I promise, I don’t care who knows about us, please just come back. Don’t be dead. Jimmy… James, my…!”
Alan was in hysterics and did not realize when everything froze around him. The people stopped jumping off the train and the flames stopped flickering and turned a distinct shade of lime green. A blue hooded creature with large black eyes stepped out of the flame closest to Alan, but he didn’t notice. He was too lost in his pain to care anymore.
“Alan Scott.”
Alan stroked Jimmy’s burnt hair, ignoring the alien voice calling to him.
“Alan Scott of Earth…” There was compassion in the tone now. Alan glanced up to see tears in the being’s eyes. “You… you possess the willpower to embrace great love.”
“Wha… what are you?”
“I am the No’Del Mar, the Keeper of the Green Flame and Wielder of the Starheart. And Alan Scott of Earth, you are my champion.”
He refused to let go of Jimmy. He held the lifeless body in his arms. He willed the creature to go away.
Those black eyes engulfed him.
Unnatural flames enveloped Jimmy’s corpse.
“What the – “
A chain wrapped around the Keeper’s finger. It snaked out to wrap around Alan’s own and from it slid a ring of the purest green. There were no sigils or designs. It was a simple circle that fit him perfectly. As the chain connected them, the figure glowed brighter than the sun. New flames exploded out of him. They washed over Alan painlessly yet he couldn’t help but scream. Scream and scream until his voice was hoarse.
He saw the compartment explode.
He heard the engine erupt.
He saw the compartment explode.
He heard the engine e…rupt.
Jimmy’s lifeless eyes. The absence of his shining smile.
Green flame breathed life into the deepest pits of Alan’s blackening soul. It covered him in a loving embrace. He glowed with a brilliant emerald light as the flames died down, freezing the new Wielder of the Starheart in a crystal cocoon of violet.