No Man's Land
Chapter 7
…
CT woke up to see that it was dark in the room. His eyes unfocused, he looked around for a light switch. Fumbling his hand around for a switch of any kind, CT found one and with a clumsy press of the button, the lights flicked on. Giving a groan of malcontent, CT covered his eyes to block out of the blinding white light. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, mumbling incoherently in discomfort, CT looked around. A pressure in his groin told him that he needed to use the facilities.
Pushing off the duvet of the bed, CT swung his legs out and his feet touched the cold metal floor. A slight chill ran up his body as the soles of his feet pressed against the chilled smooth metallic floor. Pushing himself to standing position, CT trudged his way over to the ensuite bathroom where the toilet sat against the wall. Pushing his briefs down slightly, CT groaned in relief as his bladder began to empty itself followed by the hissing sound of urine colliding with the metal bowl of the toilet.
Once he felt the pressure subside, CT pulled his underwear back up and pressed the knob of the toilet. Hearing the toilet flush, CT turned around to notice his reflection in the vanity mirror. The platinum-haired and purple eyed stranger in the looking glass looked groggy and half-asleep. Giving a grimace, CT trudged over to the shower bay, pulling his underwear off and turning the knob of the shower on. Hot water began to spray out of the showerhead like a deluge of precipitation and steam began to fill the room. After adjusting the temperature, CT stepped in to stand under the cascading liquid and gave a sigh of relief as the hot water began to wash away the sleep induced fog in his mind and body.
After spending a few minutes, CT turned the hot water off and reached for a towel. Finding one of the rack, CT began to dry himself off before wrapping the towel around his waist, clinching it in the front.
Looking at the mirror again, CT saw the reflection looked much more3 awake and alert now. Walking back into the bedroom, CT suddenly noticed that Diana and Carol were waiting for him. A blush crept over CT's cheeks as he stared at the two women in his room, gentle and friendly smiles on their faces. Then a feeling of annoyance came over CT as he glared at the two heroines and said to them, "What are you doing in my room?"
"Good morning to you too," Captain Marvel said sardonically as she sat on the edge of the bed, her legs crossed. "Have a good sleep?" she asked sweetly.
"It's fine," CT said as he folded his arms over his chest, his body language indicating that he didn't like this intrusion of his privacy. "You still haven't answered my question," he added.
"Well, we came to see how you were doing after yesterday, CT," Diana said kindly. "Have you had any dreams? Any more memories of Aegon?" she enquired.
"No," CT replied. "Couldn't this have waited after I got dressed?" he asked tersely.
"I suppose it could've," Diana admitted. "But we also realised that you don't have much in the way of clothing, so we came to bring you these," she said as she held a folded pile of clothing in her hands.
"It's not spandex, is it?" CT deadpanned.
"What's wrong with spandex?" Carol asked.
"I don't do clothing that leaves little to the imagination," CT said coldly.
"Jen will be disappointed to hear that," Carol said with an amused smile.
"It's not spandex," Diana said to reassure CT. "Just some basic workout clothing," she told him.
"Workout clothing?" CT parroted.
"We're going to help train you up, get a feel of your capabilities," Diana said as if it were obvious.
"Oh!" A look of understanding was on CT's face as he remembered that detail. "I remember now," he said to himself, and he took the workout clothes from Wonder Woman's hands. "Would you two mind?" he asked giving them a pointed look.
"Of course, we should respect your privacy," Diana said with a nod of her head before she and Carol left the room. "Come to the training room when you're ready," she told CT before she closed the door.
After the door closed, CT then dressed himself in the workout clothes. To his consternation, the pants were formfitting; he understood the reasoning, but he wasn't looking to draw attention to himself and in a world of only women, he was already a prime target.
After dressing himself, CT looked at the sword that was propped against the wall. With a heavy sigh, CT took the sword and tied it to his waist. He would fully admit he wasn't a fighter; it wasn't as though he were a namby-pamby pacifist, he just wasn't any good at actual fighting and coupled with his anxiety issues, a simple punch could take him out of the fight.
Leaving his room, CT looked around for some signs of where the training room was. Unfortunately, there weren't any signs that could show him where the training room was.
"Hey, you need some help?" a sweet feminine voice asked, and CT turned his head to see Karen Starr AKA Power Girl walking toward him with a friendly smile on her lips.
"Trying to find the training room," CT mumbled out. "Apparently I need training," he said.
"Don't think that you need it?" Karen raised an eyebrow.
CT shook his head and replied, "No, nothing like that. I'm just… no good at fighting."
"Well, that's what training is for," Karen said with a smile. "So that you can learn to fight," she added.
"Right…" CT mumbled quietly.
"C'mon, I'll take you to the training room. Diana asked for everyone to be there to help begin your training," Karen said as she gently took CT by the arm and led him down the corridor.
…
A few minutes later, CT was led into the training room where the remaining female heroes of the Justice League and Avengers were gathered. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel stood in front of the heroines and looked over to see CT and Power Girl enter the room.
"Good, you both made it," Carol said with a nod of her head. "Everyone, this is the Conduit, or CT as we've come to call him," she told everyone.
CT bowed his head in embarrassment as the heroines all smiled and gave their greetings. "CT? Will you come up here please?" Diana asked.
Reluctantly, CT trudged his way up to the front and stood beside Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. Wonder Woman then began to speak.
"As we all know, CT is the last male person in this new combined universe and thus will be a primary target for any remaining factions and organisations that have ill intent towards him," the Champion of the Amazons said in a loud clear voice. "While CT is just beginning to learn of his powers as a Conduit for the Infinity Rings, he still needs to be trained to fight effectively."
Carol then took over by saying, "So today we're going to help CT learn how to defend himself from anyone who has less than pure intentions towards him," she said. Looking at CT, the Kree-Human woman said to him, "We know you came to this world with a sword, but do you have any real experience with weapons or fighting?" she asked.
CT shook his head sadly. Carol nodded in understanding and looked at Diana meaningfully. The Amazon Princess nodded and said to CT, "Luckily for you, I know how to wield a sword and we have members here who also know melee combat."
Then Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk spoke up, "What about unarmed combat? Who's gonna teach CT that?" she asked and a few of the other heroines gave voices of agreement.
Then a tall blonde-haired woman wearing a black leather jacket, bustier, fishnet stockings and high heeled boots stepped forth. "I'd be happy to teach him," she said with a smile.
Diana smiled and replied, "Thank you, Dinah. I couldn't think of anyone better to teach CT unarmed combat."
Dinah Lance AKA Black Canary gave a smile back and said, "My pleasure." The blonde siren then looked at CT and said to him, "I look forward to teaching you what I know, CT." CT nodded shyly.
"I can teach you wrestling!" She-Hulk piped up eagerly.
"Okay, calm down, Jen," Carol said to the Jade Giantess. "Let's not get carried away here," she advised.
"Well, what about the Infinity Rings?" Power Girl asked. "Some of us already know how they're powered up," she said.
"Yeah, how are they powered up?" a brunette wearing form fitting red spandex with spider-web wings asked.
CT sighed and tried to make himself look inconspicuous as Carol and Diana looked at each before Carol gave a reply.
"The Infinity Rings are powered by CT's libido," she said. "Basically, you 'charge' CT up, you give the Rings a charge," she explained.
"Are you for real?" Black Canary asked in disbelief.
"I wish we weren't, Dinah," Diana said apologetically. "But Carol and I have seen it firsthand," she added.
"Well, could we see it?" Jessica Drew AKA Spider-Woman asked.
"I volunteer!" Jen exclaimed happily as she looked at CT with eagerness.
"No," CT said bluntly.
"We don't have to go to such extremes," Diana said quickly. "But a simple kiss would suffice, wouldn't it?" she asked.
CT looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "What did I ever do to you?" Giving a sigh, he said, "Fine. Just a kiss, no more than that."
"Any takers?" Carol asked the Avengers/Justice League members.
"Memememememememe!" Jen bounced up and down excitedly.
"No," CT said to her with a glare which caused Jen to pout like a child denied her favourite toy and whine, "Why not?!"
"Because knowing you, you'll get way to into it and rip CT's clothes off and have your way with him in front of everyone here," Carol said in a deadpan.
"I so would not!" Jen protested and Carol gave her a deadpan look that the Jade Giantess grumble sullenly.
"We'll leave it to CT to decide," Diana then announced and she looked at CT and said to him, "Your choice, CT. Do you want to display your powers as a Conduit now, or later?"
CT cast his head down and gave a sullen mutter, "What did I do to deserve this?" He then looked up at everyone and looked over his choices. Casting his eyes around at the abundance of choice he had, his gaze settled on Power Girl and nodded at her.
"Me?" Karen blinked in surprise and CT reluctantly nodded. "Alright then, pucker up." Karen walked over to CT and stood in front him. To CT's consternation, the Kryptonian of Earth-2 stood a head taller than he did and he craned his neck up to look at her. Karen smiled kindly at him and said, "It's okay. I don't bite… hard."
"That's not what worries me," CT deadpanned. Karen gave a sympathetic nod of her head as she gently lifted CT up to face level and kissed him gently on the lips. The kiss started off slow at first as Power Girl's lips moulded to the Conduit's, but then some sensation had the busty blonde Kryptonian start kissing the young man more passionately. Then the Reality Ring on CT's hand flared to life and CT managed to pull away, looking very red in the face. Karen had a blush on her cheeks as well and she looked like she wanted more than just a kiss.
CT stared at the Reality Ring on his finger and held it up, trying to draw on its power. Then appearing in a flash of light was a tall spectral figure who looked very much CT but older more powerful of frame and wearing a circlet on his brow. The spectre looked around and spoke in a soft distant voice.
"Where am I?"
Everyone stared at the ghostly figure in surprise before he/it looked at CT who stared at the being dumbfounded. "You? You brought me here." The ghostly being then faded away.
"What was that?!" Jen exclaimed in surprise.
Diana looked at Carol who shook her head in response. Then Zatanna stepped out from the crowd and said, "I think that was CT's likeness; Aegon the Conqueror!"
"But how did CT end up summoning the guy? Or his ghost?" Black Canary asked.
CT frowned in thought then his eyes widened as an idea came into his head and he spoke. "Has anyone here ever played Cyberpunk or Shadow of War before?"
"Cyberpunk? Shadow of War? Aren't those videogames?" Carol asked.
CT nodded and said, "In Cyberpunk 2077 you shared your brain and body with Johnny Silverhand and in Shadow of War you were host to a wraith's spirit."
"So, if it's like Cyberpunk, you could end up losing control of your own mind and body to Aegon then Conqueror?" Jen asked and CT nodded his head slowly.
"That confirms what Emma and Jean told us," Diana said grimly.
"You knew?" CT looked at Diana with an angry look on his face. "When were you going to tell me?" he demanded.
"We were hoping to break the news to you gently, kid," Carol admitted gently. "There might be a way to fix it or slow it down, but we don't want to give you false hope," she said sadly.
"Well, now that we know that CT could end up losing his mind and body, what can we do about it?" Jessica Drew AKA Spider-Woman asked.
"In Cyberpunk, there two pills, one red and one blue; the red pill allowed the other personality to take control and the blue pill suppressed it," CT said as he put a hand to his chin in thought. "Do we have anything like that?" he asked.
"Maybe, but we should try some other methods first," Wonder Woman replied. "Besides, from what I remember, the pills are only a temporary measure and have side effects that could be dire," she said.
"Maybe we could try to contact Aegon the Conqueror's spirit or consciousness?" Zatanna suggested. "He could be just as scared and confused as you are," she said to CT.
"Maybe," CT said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Not sure I like the idea of sharing my brain and body with someone else," he added grimly.
"Anyway, I think we've diverged long enough," Carol said. "So, Diana, you wanna help CT get started on training?" she asked looking at the Amazon Princess who nodded in answer.
"C'mon, CT, let's get you started on the basics," Diana then said to CT who pulled himself away from Power Girl who quickly whispered to him, "If you want more than just a kiss, come see me in my room later."
Diana then took CT over to a training mat where she took up a training sword and sparring shield. "Alright, CT, take a sword and let's see your form," she told him.
CT grabbed a sparring sword and held it in a one-handed grip. Diana shook her head at him and said, "Legs apart, knees bent slightly and hold your sword to your side at a downward angle."
"Like this?" CT asked as he did what Diana told him. The Amazon nodded and replied, "Put your left foot forward pointing towards me and place your right foot behind you."
CT did as he was told. "Very good," Wonder Woman said with a nod of her head. "Now, I want you to block this first strike. We'll go slow first then we'll build up speed gradually," she explained.
"One." Diana slowly struck with her sword in an overhead swing and CT blocked it. "Two." Diana then struck at a downward angle and CT blocked it. "Three." Diana spun slowly and struck at CT's left side and CT stopped the strike with his sword. "Very good," Wonder Woman said with an approving nod. "Now let's try it a little faster this time," she added.
Over the next few minutes, Diana struck at CT with her training sword in a series of strikes, gradually picking up speed until at last, she went too fast for CT to block in time and struck him in the ribs. To his credit, CT didn't cry in pain, although he did give a pained grunt and stumbled backwards.
"Not bad for a beginner," Diana said. "You have a long way to go, but you have some potential to become a competent swordsman," she added. "Have you ever fought with swords before?" she asked CT.
"Played around with toy sword and sticks when I was a little kid with my brother and sister," CT admitted. "Wanted to do fencing in school, but it got in the way of Cadet training," he then said.
"Cadet training? You were a Cadet?" Diana asked in surprise.
"Since I was fifteen until I got out of school. I was made a Lance Corporal," CT said modestly.
Carol overhead this and asked, "You were in Cadets? Army? Air Force? Navy?"
"Army," CT said to Carol who nodded in understanding. "It was in Cadets that I felt like I belonged somewhere," he added softly.
"Do you miss being in Cadets?" Carol asked kindly.
"A little," CT admitted. "But it was a long time ago now and I can't go back and change it. No-one can ever go back and change the past," he said bitterly.
"Well, there's some truth to that," Diana said sardonically. "Can't even begin to count how many times things went horribly wrong because someone changed something in the past," she added.
"Yeah," Carol said with a nod of her head before she gave a heavy sigh and said, "Anyway, much as I'd like to stand here and be all philosophical, time for some lunch."
"I could eat," Diana said with a nod of her head. "You hungry, CT?" she asked looking at the Conduit who shrugged in reply.
"I'm not fussed."
"Well, alright then," Carol said with a nod of her head. "C'mon. Let's grab something to eat and then get back to training you up," she advised.
Diana and Carol then took CT out of the training room to the cafeteria where they could grab a quick meal and continue with training CT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! Seventh chapter of this done and dusted and I'll admit it's not my best work, but at least I got something out for this. And we will see more of Aegon the Conqueror and I imagine CT and Aegon's relationship being a little like Johnny Silverhand and V from Cyberpunk, butting heads in the beginning and slowly coming to an understanding and perhaps even a friendship of sorts. Who knows.
In other news, I've set up a voting poll on my profile for my Highschool of the Dead/GoT/ASOIAF story of which Fallout setting/game should be used for a crossover arc and so far New Vegas, 76 and Nuka break are in the lead. I won't pressure anyone, but if you want to see your choice for a Fallout setting/game be used as a crossover arc for A Song of Ice, Fire & the Dead, I really would appreciate it.
Speaking of Highschool of the Dead, I've been trying to update some of my older stories and I remember that I have an Elder Scrolls/Highschool of the Dead story in the icebox and I took a look at it. Seems okay, but I have been thinking of rewriting it, but I don't know at this stage. I might rewrite it, I might not, depends on how I'm feeling. If I do rewrite, I might make it a multi-crossover with Fallout and/or Witcher, who knows at this stage. Like I said, it depends how I'm feeling and what I'm in the mood for.
Anyways, enough of my nonsensical ramblings, I'll leave this here and I'll see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.