No Man's Land
Chapter 3
…
I stared at the four women standing across from me and they stared back. After a long tense moment, I scrambled to my feet, intent on getting out of here. I nearly made it to the door when a sudden gust of wind blew past me and Power Girl was standing there, blocking the exit.
"Not getting out that way," the blonde powerhouse told me with a cocky smirk. Out of some reflex, I put a hand to the sword hanging on my hip and I nearly drew it out of its scabbard but then I stopped and looked at the sword that hung by my side.
Who was I kidding? I wasn't a warrior or a fighter. I was a bloody weakling when it came to fights. So, I backed away slowly until I suddenly hit something solid. I turned around, looked up and swallowed a lump in my throat when I saw She-Hulk standing over me with a smile on her jade lips.
"You gonna try and run away, cutie?" the Jade Giantess asked me and I glanced to my sides, trying to find some exit when suddenly, She-Hulk lifted me up by the scruff of my shirt. I dangled there pathetically. I was scared stiff; sure, these women might be heroes in their respective universes, but this was a universe without men and Black Cat did mention that some factions might try to take control of me for their own ends.
"What do you want from me?" I squawked out.
"Huh?" She-Hulk blinked at me in confusion.
"What do you want from me? Why am I here?" I asked the two questions on my mind as I dangled in the air in the She-Hulk's grasp.
"Jen, put him down. He's obviously scared and confused," Wonder Woman said to She-Hulk. Jen then gently set me down on the ground and I looked at the Amazon Princess who then looked at me. "We heard the rumours that there was a man in this new world of ours. We came to see the truth of them, but I swear to you, we do not intend you any harm."
"Am I just to take your word for it?" I responded. "My first encounter with women wasn't exactly the best," I said.
"That is true. But it has been some time since any woman has seen a man, so naturally when they saw you, they chased after you," Diana replied. "I am sorry for that, but from what I heard you then met Black Cat, did you not?" She looked at me questioningly.
"I did," I admitted shyly, feeling extremely nervous about all this. I did not feel like telling these women that I had slept with Felicia Hardy of all people. I had no idea how they would react to that particular bit of information. It could go either way, really. "Why am I here? Why do I look like this?" I then asked.
"That is not certain. At least not yet" Wonder Woman replied to my question, her ocean blue eyes calculating and calm. "But if you come with us, I swear on my honour as an Amazon, you will not be harmed," she said to me solemnly.
I looked around and weighed my options. I didn't have many options: while it was extremely unlikely I would escape this place, even if I somehow managed it, I would be on the run for good while and more than likely likely run into some less than savoury factions who would use me as a bargaining chip to get whatever they wanted. On the other hand, if I went with these women, I could be relatively safe and find out what my purpose of being in this new world was and why I looked so differently from my original body.
"It seems I have no other alternative, do I?" I intoned to Wonder Woman who shook her, a slightly sad smile on her lips.
I then surrendered my sword to them, figuring that it was best to do so as a show of good faith. I could always get it back or get something better if I had to make a run for it.
No handcuffs were placed on me which was a relief, but the four heroines did form a tight circle around me. She-Hulk was practically glued to my hip and she was subtly running her thigh against my arm. I fought down the blush that threatened to spread across my cheeks; God, I was bad at this. I'd have thought losing my virginity would've made me less susceptible to feminine wiles and charms, but it seems that it was clearly not the case.
After stepping outside into an alleyway, Diana had put a finger to her ear, presumably contacting someone for pickup. Suddenly I felt a sense of vertigo and in a flash of bright blue light, I was standing in a large open room of dark blue metal along with brighter almost neon white-aqua blue lights. I looked around and I could only guess I was on the Watchtower, headquarters of the Justice League, or whatever passed for it in this new world I had found myself in.
"Welcome to the Watchtower," Power Girl said with a bright and friendly smile. The four women then hustled me down the corridor with Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers telling me that some tests needed to be done.
…
Half an hour later, I was stripped down to my underwear and laid flat on a cool metal table going into an MRI machine of some sort. I could only guess it was going to scan me for something and the results would tell the four heroines hiding behind a two-way mirror what I was. Sensors were attached to specific parts of my body. She-Hulk commented that it might be better if I was fully naked, but I had quickly said no to that idea. I was still not comfortable being nude around other people and the way She-Hulk was looking at me was kinda unnerving. Of course, my newly awakened libido would've enjoyed the way Jennifer Walters was staring at me so hungrily, but the more logical and rational part of me was telling me that it might be a bad idea to strip naked and let She-Hulk have her way with me. It'd be an interesting way to go at the very least.
So, I lay there on the table with sensors plugged onto my body and I went into the machine. After a moment of waiting, I was bathed in bright white light that nearly blinded me and left me blinking stars out of my eyes. A few more flashes of light, followed by a line of soft blue light running all down my body from my head to my toes. This process repeater a few more times before I was slid out of the machine, blinking spots from my eyes and I had to rub them to try and recover. In my original form I needed glasses, but my new eyes didn't seem to need them, but maybe it would be worthwhile to ask for a pair. If only top feel some sense of normalcy.
Diana and Carol entered the room to speak to me. "So, what's the bad news?" I asked dully. "Any idea why I'm here or why I'm like this?" I further said.
"Well, bad news is our initial scans can't tell us why you look so different or why you're here," Carol answered my question. "But we do have a couple of avenues to explore that could answer ours and your questions," she then said optimistically.
"Such as?" I raised an eyebrow.
"It's better if we bring them in here," Diana said and walking into the room were none other than Zatanna Zatara and Wanda Maximoff AKA the Scarlet Witch.
I could feel blood rushing from my head to my head as I gazed upon the two women entering the room. Zatanna was dressed in her signature magician's outfit consisting of her bustier which seemed to push her already large breasts even higher making her appear curvier and her slim narrow waist then flared into wide child-bearing hips that then turned into long lithe legs with deceptively thick thighs covered in fishnet stockings before ending in calf-length stiletto heeled boots. Scarlet Witch was dressed in her signature red outfit that consisted of her deep red bodysuit that showed off her generous cleavage and hugged her hips, thigh high red leather boots that only seemed to emphasize her shapely legs; a long crimson cloak that draped her shoulders and the scarlet tiara/crown upon her gorgeous face.
"Hey there, cutie," Zatanna smiled at me playfully and I swallowed a lump in my throat. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" the raven-haired magician asked me teasingly.
"Lay off, Zee. The guy's probably lost and confused as to where he is and why he looks so different," Wanda said to her. "Although I will agree that he does look cute," she snapped a playful wink at me which only furthered my embarrassment.
"Yeah, okay, we can already tell you both like the kid, but you can flirt with him later," Carol then said to them. "Now do your thing and figure out why the kid is here and why he looks like the way he does," she ordered them.
"Of course, Carol. Down to business," Zatanna said demurely as she and Scarlet Witch walked over to me. I shrank back a little, feeling nervous. "It's okay, we wouldn't do a thing to hurt you," Zatanna told me gently. I relaxed a little but was still on guard if this turned out to be a trap.
Zatanna muttered out an incantation, waving her wand over me and Wanda cast a spell of her own, her hands wreathed in red energy. I felt a tingling sensation all over my body and light bathed my entire being before slowly fading. Zatanna and Wanda looked at each with a slightly grim look in their eyes and nodded to each other.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" I asked them.
"It's just as we thought," Zatanna said for everyone to hear. She then looked at me and said, "You're a Conduit, a being brought from a world of Creators to this new world."
"A what?" I sputtered. "What's a Conduit? Why do I even look like this?" I demanded.
"A Conduit is a being chosen by Creators to act as an agent," Wanda answered my first question. "Conduits can practically take any form they choose, more often taking on a form they feel the most connection with," she then said.
"Who the hell are the Creators? Why did they choose me? I'm a little nobody!" I said, more to myself than anyone else in the room with me.
"Who knows," Wanda replied. "But you were obviously chosen to be a Conduit for a reason, and as for why you look the way you do, that's up to you to figure out," she said.
"Who are the Creators?" Carol then asked. "Why did they merge our universes and have all men kill each other in that war?" she also asked.
"Creators are extra-dimensional beings that created the universes. They're the reason we exist," Zatanna said to her. "No-one can understand a Creator's motives, but as for why they merged our universes and have all men die in the war is a mystery unto itself," she added.
"Could we contact these Creators and ask them demerge our universes?" Diana asked.
"There's no way of knowing if any Creator will answer our calls," Wanda replied. "Obviously, a Creator merged our universes and removed all men for a reason," she said and she looked at me and added, "And they sent a Conduit to our new universe for some purpose as well."
"But what reason could they have for sending a… Conduit to a universe with only women and no men?" Diana asked.
"I could think of one reason, but you're not gonna like it," Zatanna said dryly.
It suddenly dawned on me and apparently everyone else in the room. I slapped my hand against my face and dragged it down and groaned in frustration. "Great… just fucking great!" I moaned.
"Huh, I would've thought someone like you would be jumping for joy," Carol said to me dryly. "Must be every red-blooded guy's wet dream to have an entire world of gorgeous women all to himself," she added with a humourless chuckle.
"If you had asked me a few years ago, I would've said yes," I muttered back. "But believe it or not, I have matured over the years. The whole thing sounds good on paper, but in practice it'll go horribly wrong," I said.
"How so?" Wonder Woman asked.
"An entire universe of women all wanting a piece of me, constantly badgering me to sleep with them, giving me no peace whatsoever and being followed everywhere being asked and offered sexual favours," I deadpanned. "And in case it isn't obvious, I don't like people. I don't want to be followed around everywhere being badgered every two seconds. Just wanna be left alone," I said gruffly.
"So, you're a misogynist?" Carol asked me tersely.
"No. I just don't like people," I replied. "I've never liked people. People are difficult, hard to understand, and I generally don't fit in with most people." I then cast my eyes to the ground. "Most people judge me before they get to know me, it's why I'm better off alone," I said bitterly.
"What happened to you to make you say that?" Diana asked in a gentle voice. "Why do you feel you are better off alone and away from people?"
"Answered your own question," I said bluntly. "People," I then added for clarification.
"Great, we've got an anti-social misanthrope as the possible saviour of our universe," Carol said blithely. "Now we just gotta figure out how to fix this mess," she added.
"And how do we?" Diana asked.
Then a cold condescending voice interrupted. "Allow me to answer that for you."
Then walking into the room was a dark-skinned woman with an almost buzzcut of black hair and wearing a navy blue dress suit. Walking, heck, skipping alongside the woman was Harley Quinn herself. I could only guess this was Amanda Waller with an offer for me to join her Suicide Squad.
Wonder Woman recognised the two and growled out, "Waller! How did you get aboard the Watchtower?" she demanded as her hands curled into fists.
"As always. I let myself in," Amanda Waller said imperiously. "It's amazing how any of you can get anything done while still being in the dark about things," she mocked.
"You're already here two seconds and you're already pissing me off!" Carol spat as her hands glowed with photonic energy.
"A pity, Major Danvers. You'd be an excellent fit to lead my Suicide Squad. Perhaps later you'll serve as team leader willingly," Waller said calmly.
"Why are you here?" Zatanna asked getting to the point.
"Simple. I'm here for him," Waller looked right at me and I felt a spike of cold run down my spine. I was more than familiar with Waller's personality, character, and backstory; she was as ruthless as they came and had no problem pulling the trigger on those who disobeyed her commands. To be fair, she was willing to get her hands dirty and do what needed done. Did it make her good at her job? Yes, but it did not make her a good person either.
"No way! There is no way you're getting your hands on our only chance at fixing things!" Carol spat as she stood in front of me protectively. Wonder Woman, Zatanna and Scarlet Witch all stood beside Captain Marvel, ready to stop Waller from taking me.
"Interesting for you to say that," Waller commented. "You do realise that what you're doing could be called a capital offence? Hiding the only man in this new universe up here, keeping him to yourselves like a trophy," she then said coldly.
"Don't try any of your mind games, Waller!" Zatanna hissed angrily. "Unless you want me to turn you into a newt!" she threatened.
"I'm not playing mind games, Ms Zatara. I am simply stating the facts of the situation," Waller replied. "The governments are now already aware of there being a single man left in this new universe and they are already demanded to speak to him," she said. "And how would it look for the Justice League and the Avengers if it was known that they hid humanity's only chance at fixing this mess?"
Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel glanced at each other uneasily and I felt a bit of sympathy for them. Then again, I went with them willingly and I chose to voice that thought out loud.
"I went with them willingly," I said in as a calm and clear voice as I could muster. "If you're gonna talk about me, don't do it when I'm present. I'm not an object," I stated.
"Of course," Wonder Woman said to me gently. "We did not mean to speak of you as if you were," she added.
"Doesn't mean you didn't," I said with a glare and Diana winced obviously feeling caught out on that detail. I then looked at Waller and said to her, "I'm well aware of who you are, Mrs Waller and your organisation, plus all of your dirty laundry. You're obviously here with an offer or incentive to join you, so spit out."
Waller looked at me impassively before replying, "Very few have the stones to talk to me in such a fashion." A ghost of a smile passed over her face before she added, "Normally, I'd have such behaviour reprimanded, but I'll allow it to slide this once."
"Just rather get this over and done with," I muttered tiredly. "So, what is you want, and what do you have to offer?" I asked in a terse voice.
"Simple: I want you to join Cadmus," Waller said getting directly to the point.
"No way! You are not taking him!" Carol bellowed.
"I agree. He is not some tool for you to use and discard!" Diana stated angrily.
"And what do you have to offer me in order to get me to join you?" I asked. The Avengers and Justice League looked at me in shock, as though I was serious about accepting Waller's offer.
"This," Waller said as she held out a small aluminium case and opened it. Inside the case was not gold, silver, jewels, money or valuables, but there was a bright red ring studded with a glowing red gem resting in the black rubber foam.
"Is that… a Lantern Corps ring?" Diana asked as she looked at the ring that rested in the black rubber foam.
"No, it looks like an Infinity stone," Wanda stated.
"You're both partially correct," Waller said to them. "This is what we've labelled an Infinity Ring. We found this in the Sonoran Desert and after doing some tests, we've determined it to be the Reality Stone," she explained.
"Why offer me this?" I asked. "Jewellery ain't exactly my style," I said.
"Some of my people have tried to wear this ring, but it doesn't work for them," Waller replied. "I can only surmise that you are the one that will be able to use this ring. I offer it you free of charge, as a token of good faith," she said.
Sighing to myself, I picked up the ring from its case. It flashed brightly for a moment, before disappearing and reappearing on my middle finger of my right hand. The ring gleamed brightly before fading from view.
"Huh? Where did it go? It just disappeared!" Carol exclaimed in surprise.
"The ring is still there, but it appears to be actively cloaking itself," Waller answered.
"Most of the Lantern Corps can do that with their power rings as well," Diana put in.
"So, how does this ring work?" I asked.
"My scientists offered a lot of theories, but the most promising one was that the Infinity Ring is charged by your libido," Waller said in a serious voice.
"Huh?!" Everyone, including me squawked that out in disbelief.
"That has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Carol stated.
"I share Carol's statement," Diana said.
"When did this turn into a porno?" I asked.
"I dunno, this kinda reminds me of the time I watched a XXX filum of where I got gang-banged by the Sex-Men," Harley cackled.
"How do we even know that theory works?" Zatanna asked.
"It's why I brought Harley along," Waller said.
"Huh? You want me to fuck the kid in front of everybody?" Harley asked looking between me and Waller.
"Nothing so scandalous," Waller said. "I want you to give the Conduit a blowjob," she told Harley with a smirk on her lips.
Harley's smile grew lascivious as she said, "Waller baby, this has gotta be the best assignment you've given since the time I had to 'distract' Scandal Savage and her gal-pal Knockout!"
"No fucking way!" Carol got in front of me to block Harley from potentially pouncing on me. "Keep Giggles the Slutty Clown away from him!"
"Well, then perhaps one of you might be willing to do this in Harley's place?" Waller said to her.
Carol faltered at that as she said in a nervous voice, "Well, it's just that… right here? Can't I get a couple of beers in me first?" she asked in a small voice.
"We won't go to such lengths, Waller. But we can provide a warm embrace if that is what our friend wishes," Diana declared.
"Yeah, choosing between having me suck you off, or making out with one these broads. Real hard choice there," Harley said as she snapped a wink at me.
"Why me?" I said to myself as I looked upwards at the ceiling.
…
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! Third chapter of this is done and dusted. I hope you all liked it. Next chapter when? Don't know, but hopefully soon.
Haven't got too much to say about this chapter, so I'll just leave it here and I'll see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.