Justice League of Amazons: Dragonborn
Chapter 4
The Dragonborn stood nearly motionless at the observation room, surveying the planet called Earth before him. Why the people of this world called it Earth was unknown to the warrior; he personally thought that the title was a little unimaginative, but then he was called the Dragonborn so he couldn't really talk.
As he was brought aboard this… space station called the Watchtower (another unimaginative name), he was asked to wait in the observation deck by the Justice League (Yet another unimaginative name he thought). He was mildly curious what the Justice League were discussing, but it didn't overly concern him that much.
So there he stood, silently watching the planet called Earth slowly rotate on its axis.
…
In the Monitor Room of the Watchtower, Shayera and the other League members discussed what they had learned about their guest and his being.
"According to the data Felicity sent us, it appears that Mr Dragonborn has a near immunity to Aresia's virus," Barbara Gordon AKA Batgirl stated as she read the technical data from the computer monitor. "They determined that there was an energy that Mr Dragonborn called 'magicka' within his system that allowed to shrug off the virus," she then said.
"That's what I think it is," Zatanna said. "I did a little scan of him earlier, and he's near saturated in magic," she stated. "I nearly passed out from scanning him," she added.
"Do you think he's capable of using magic?" Helena Bertinelli AKA Huntress enquired.
"Well, given that he used some kind of spell to disperse a mob of crazed women, I can safely assume he can perform spells of some kind," Zatanna replied. "But, where is it that he comes from?" she wondered aloud.
"From the past? Could he be a time traveller?" Mari McCabe AKA Vixen suggested.
"Maybe he's an alien," Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl postulated.
"He looks and claims to be human," Karen Starr AKA Power Girl pointed out to her young counterpart. "I think it's more likely he's from another universe like I am," she said with a nod of her head.
"This is all speculation," Dinah Lance AKA Black Canary stated. "The only way to get answers about our guest is to ask him ourselves," she said.
"Agreed," Hawkgirl said with a nod of agreement. "Supergirl? Would you mind bringing Mr Dragonborn here so that we may talk to him?" she requested and Supergirl nodded in response, getting up from her chair and leaving the Monitor Room.
…
Kara was apprehensive and nervous at the thought of asking the Justice League's guest to come talk with the others. Normally, the younger cousin to Superman had a devil may care attitude towards most threats to her person as she could usually find a way to beat the odds. But, one look at the Dragonborn had caused her to be more cautious, especially when the subject of magic was brought up. Magic was one of the few things that could actually hurt a Kryptonian and while Kara was confident enough to handle most magical threats, the Dragonborn had some primal part of her afraid.
It wasn't all bad, Kara thought to herself as she headed for the observation deck. When the Dragonborn took off his helmet, Supergirl found herself quite surprised at seeing the strong handsome looking features he possessed. It reminded the eighteen-year old Kryptonian of the marble statues she had seen in museums and the like. And looking into the Dragonborn's deep purple almost dark blue eyes had butterflies dancing in Kara's tummy.
Reaching the observation deck, she opened the door and found the Dragonborn standing stock still, as though he was a statue and not a flesh and blood being. Only the sound of the man's heartbeat and his breathing told Supergirl that he was even alive.
Kara gave a little cough into her hand and said, "Excuse me? Mr Dragonborn? …Sir?" she called out in a small voice.
The Dragonborn turned his neck to look at Supergirl and she found herself trying not to show fear as she saw the near pitch-black helmet that had only a thin slit where the eyes would be gazing at her. Drawing up her courage, Kara spoke to him, "I was asked to bring you to the Monitor Room so that we can ask you a few questions," she said trying not to let her voice quaver in tone.
The Dragonborn then turned his body fully around and walked towards Kara and the Kryptonian then walked beside the behemoth of a man down the passage to the Monitor Room.
As they walked, Kara tried to make some smalltalk to hopefully ease any tension that she felt was present. "So, you're called the Dragonborn?" she tried to say casually.
"Yes," came the almost raspy baritone from the man.
"No other name?" Kara asked.
"I have one or two," Dragonborn said quietly.
"Such as?" Kara prompted.
"I was addressed as Legate in the Imperial Legion and Harbinger of the Companions," the warrior said.
"I meant your birthname," Kara said meekly.
"I don't have one," the Dragonborn said simply.
"Oh! That's… unfortunate," Kara said awkwardly. "Did your parents not give you a name?" she asked timidly.
"I was found as a baby on the steps of the Imperial Orphanage and they raised me as Orphan No. 8," The Dragonborn stated in response.
Kara stared at the man flabbergasted and in disbelief. How could no-one think to give someone a name? Such a concept went against everything Kara believed in. "Were you ever adopted?" she asked hoping that there was some family who had taken this man in.
"No," came the near emotionless response and Kara felt her heart sink on her chest as she heard that flat answer.
Supergirl did not say another word after that as she and the warrior reached the Monitor Room. "Thank you, Supergirl," Hawkgirl said to the Kryptonian gratefully. Kara nodded and gave the Dragonborn a sympathetic smile before taking her seat.
"Please take a seat, Mr…?" Shayera led hoping the man would give a name.
"I am called the Dragonborn," the man said as he took a seat at the opposite end of the conference table.
"That's it? No actual name of your own?" Hawkgirl asked.
"He's an orphan. They didn't bother to give him an actual name," Supergirl spoke up, an angry frustrated scowl on her face.
"That's… ridiculous," Huntress said flatly. "How could no-one bother to give you a name?" she asked looking at the Dragonborn.
"Because no-one did," the warrior said in response as he sat down in the chair.
"Did you ever think to give yourself a name?" Zatanna asked, her eyes going soft with pity.
"Never saw or had a reason to," the Dovahkiin replied with a minute shrug. "Being called the Dragonborn was enough for me," he said.
The League exchanged glances with each other; they all had mixed feelings on the subject of the Dragonborn having no actual name to be called by. The most common feeling was abject disbelief; they couldn't comprehend the idea that someone would never be given a name of their own nor choose their own name either.
Shayera was professional enough to put her thoughts on the matter aside to get to the real subject at hand. "I imagine you have some questions for us, and we have questions for you," she said in a business-like tone of voice.
"Ask away," the Dragonborn offered as he sat straight in the chair, unmoving.
"How is it you ended up in this universe? Where do you even come from for that matter?" were Hawkgirl's first two questions.
The Dragonborn then proceeded to tell the League his story and he did not spare the details. He began with the tale of how he was found on the doorsteps of the Orphanage in the Imperial City and upon reaching the age of thirteen years old, he was kicked out to make his own way into the world. Everyone had looks of pity in their eyes as the Dragonborn told them that detail which made snort; as if pity helped anyone in any tangible way. After spending time in the city of Bruma until he was seventeen years old, the Dragonborn had then made his way into the Jerall Mountains to cross the border into Skyrim where he stumbled into the ambush the Imperial Legion had sprung on Ulfric Stormcloak, leader of the Stormcloak rebels, and his lieutenants.
The warrior then told the League with a certain theatrical flare of the moment that he was about to be executed. "The axe rose into the air, blood from its previous victim still staining its edge. And just when the headsman was about to swing, the dragon I had spied earlier swooped down, bringing chaos with it and inadvertently giving me and my fellow prisoners time to escape," he told them.
The warrior then told his audience of his adventures across Skyrim over the next three years of his life, before finally ending it with how he had arrived in this realm.
"So, this Miraak, he was the First Dragonborn?" Vixen asked.
"That's what he claimed to be, and I didn't find any evidence that suggested otherwise," the Dovahkiin replied.
"And why is that he wanted to kill you?" Power Girl asked.
"Perhaps because I threatened his power? Or perhaps my death was what he needed to finally and fully re-emerge into Tamriel?" the slayer of Alduin theorised. "I didn't think to ask as I was a little busy trying to stop him from killing me," he said.
"I suppose you were," Karen said dryly.
"What does it mean to be Dovahkiin?" Zatanna asked her question.
"Being Dovahkiin means to be born with the blood and soul of a dragon, a gift given to one by Akatosh the father of dragon kind and one of the Nine Divines of Tamriel," the Dovahkiin explained to the magician. "Being Dragonborn means I am innately gifted in the power of Dovahzul, or the language of dragons," he then said.
"What's so special about the language of dragons?" Black Canary asked.
"Dovahzul are comprised of Words of Power," the warrior said. "Using three Words of Power is called a Thu'um, or Shout," he added.
"Can anyone be taught it?" Zatanna asked.
The slayer of Alduin shook his head and said, "It takes years for a mortal person to learn even a single Word of Power, much less be able to use it. I can learn the Dragon language quickly because of what I am and how I am able to."
"How are you able to learn the Dragon language as quickly as you claim?" Beatriz da Costa AKA Fire asked.
"By slaying dragons and devouring their souls," the warrior said simply.
Everyone's eyes went wide at this detail. "You devour the souls of dragons?" Kara asked. "What do they even taste like?" she asked almost jokingly.
"I wouldn't say devour like one would consume food, but more as in absorbing their very life force into my own along with their knowledge and experience to learn new words of power instantly," the Dovahkiin said.
"How many dragons have you… slain?" Hawkgirl asked curious to know.
The Dragonborn tilted his head to the side a little as if contemplating that question before giving an answer. "I lost count somewhere along the way," he admitted. "Most dragons I came across I killed because there was a bounty on them or they simply attacked me without provocation," he said.
"Bounty? You're a bounty hunter?" Huntress asked.
"Among other things," the warrior said.
"Such as?" Shayera prompted.
"I held the rank of Legate in the Imperial Legion and was tasked with killing the Stormcloak rebels and I held the title of Harbinger of the Companions, a company of mercenaries famous throughout Skyrim."
"So you kill people for money," Dinah said with distaste in her voice and a disapproving scowl on her face.
"If you're good at something don't do it for free," the Dragonborn said.
"Comforting," Dinah muttered. "And how are we to know that you one day won't be hired to kill us?" she then asked the Dragonborn who looked at her for a moment before answering her question.
"You could always hire me first."
"And if someone were to offer you higher pay?" Mari asked.
"I take a contract, I don't break it, even if I'm offered better pay from someone else wanting me to look the other way or join their side," the Dragonborn answered.
"Huh, I never would've thought I'd live to see the day I'd meet a mercenary with principles," Huntress said dryly.
"I don't take contracts I know I can't fulfill," the Dragonborn said.
"Some might say that's a little bit money grubbing," Hawkgirl remarked.
"I call it prudent," the Dovahkiin said in response.
"Well, I guess we won't get anywhere arguing about the semantics of the subject," Shayera said tiredly. "But I suppose it's our turn to answer some questions," she added.
"I have one or two," the Dragonborn admitted. "How is it that this world has lost all its menfolk leaving behind only women?" he then asked.
Shayera then told the warrior of the Rogue Amazon Aresia manufactured a virus after reading books on magic, biology and germ warfare with the intent of wiping out all men on earth in accordance to Amazon teachings and beliefs which stated that men were not needed. Add to the fact that Aresia was an orphan of war, the trauma she felt contributed to her misandrist stance towards all men and led her to create the virus that had now left the world in the state that it was currently in.
"Is Aresia alive by any chance?" the Dragonborn asked.
"We believe she might be," Shayera said slowly. "If she is still out there, she'll have dropped off the grid and be keeping to the shadows," she then added.
"Is there a price on her head?" the Dragonborn enquired.
"Not that we know of," Batgirl said uncertainly. "Are you thinking of-" she tried to say when the Dragonborn cut her off.
"Beyond monetary gain in bringing Aresia in to the authorities, she is in many ways a war criminal guilty of mass genocide and from what I can ascertain, if she learns of the fact that there remains one man healthy and alive in this world, she will undoubtedly try to finish the job," the warrior said. "Hence why I will do what needs to be done in order to bring her to justice," he added.
"Would you be willing to kill her?" Shayera asked neutrally, curious to hear the answer.
"I'd give Aresia a chance to surrender peacefully, but if she refuses to surrender or yield, then I will do whatever I must to stop her," the Dovahkiin said in reply.
"And what are you feelings to the Amazons? Do you feel that they're responsible for what has happened to the world?" Shayera enquired.
"I would ask why they have such a distaste for the male gender and I may even understand their reasons for such, but, no, I do not feel that they are responsible for what one of their own has done of her own accord."
"Would you mind telling us why you say that?" Karen asked.
"Because I've seen similar cases in Skyrim such as how most viewed the Nords as being racist bigots because of the views of the Stormcloaks," the Dovahkiin said. "I also saw another case when the Vampire Lord Harkon tried to use three elder scrolls to blot out the sun and I was helped by his own daughter and his wife wife to put an end to him," he added. "The actions of the few do not encompass the majority," he then said.
Everyone stared at the warrior, finding a resonance at such a profound saying. Supergirl looked at Hawkgirl who nodded. Kara looked at the Dragonborn and said, "Well, in that case, I think there's someone you should meet."
"Who?"
Supergirl left the room and a few moments later, she returned with Wonder Woman beside her. The Amazon Princess still looked red in the eyes, evident that she had been crying and had not gotten any sleep. Supergirl made the introductions.
"Mr Dragonborn, this is Diana, Princess of the Amazons, also known as Wonder Woman. She tried to stop Aresia in her plans," the Kryptonian explained.
The Dragonborn stood from his seat and looked at Diana for a long moment. Diana felt dread fill the pit of her stomach as her initial thought was that the world's only possible surviving man had tarred her with the same brush as the public had done to her people. The warrior then extended a gauntleted hand, an offer to clasp hands and he said, "I am called the Dragonborn. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness."
Hesitantly, Diana clasped forearms with the warrior and felt the strong firm grip the man. "The pleasure is mine, Mr Dragonborn, although I wish it were under better circumstances," she said with a watery smile.
The warrior simply nodded his head in understanding. Shayera released the breath she had been holding the moment stood from his seat to look at Diana; she was relieved that the Dragonborn (they had sort out giving him a proper name and not simply a title) seemingly had no qualms about Diana or the Amazons in general. This made things much easier to handle from now on.
Just as the Thanagarian was about to speak, the warning sirens blared to life. Batgirl was already the console, typing away furiously before saying, "We've got an incoming ship!" she announced.
"Where from?" Hawkgirl asked.
"Planetside. Bringing up visual," Batgirl said quickly, her fingers flying across the keyboard and bringing up the camera view of a relatively small space shuttle flying towards the Watchtower. "US flag. Looks like someone's gotten wind of our guest," the apprentice of the deceased Dark Knight stated grimly.
"Let them in," Shayera told her. "If it's what I think it is, then it's better to play nice for now rather than play hardball," she said.
Everyone then assembled in the Watchtower hangar bay when the space shuttle docked and after the chamber was repressurised, the door to the shuttle opened and marching out was a squad of smartly dressed women in crisp black uniforms, each armed with an advanced looking energy rifle and they stood to one side as a short rotund woman with dark skin and darker hair cut so short you could almost see the shadow of her scalp. A contemptuous sneer was on her face as she looked at the Justice League and her gaze became even more intense when she saw the Dragonborn standing with them.
She then spoke, her voice cold and commanding. "When I first learned that STAR Labs had come into contact with a single surviving male, I thought it ludicrous. But imagine my surprise when I saw the security footage that there was indeed a male human at STAR Labs and now I see him here at the headquarters of the Justice League," she said condescendingly.
"You do realise that what you're doing could be considered a capital offence? A crime against humanity even to hide away Earth's only possible chance at surviving to see the future?" she then asked coldly.
Diana took umbrage to this and spoke up, "The Dragonborn is not someone you can take away at a whim, Miss…?"
"Amanda Waller, head of CADMUS, a government sanctioned organisation created to counter the Justice League and meta-human threats to the world," the portly woman said. "And the last thing that I or this world needs is the last surviving male in the company of Amazon given the fact that an Amazon was responsible for the gender genocide that has gripped the globe," she added.
Diana almost reeled back, a little embarrassed that fact was brought to light, Especially how Amanda Waller's escort all glared at her spitefully.
The Dragonborn then moved to stand in front of Diana. "I will speak for myself, thank you," he said.
"Very well. Your name?" Amanda prompted.
"I do not have one. I am an orphan," the warrior stated out of fact. "I am called the Dragonborn by most who know me," he then said.
"Is that it? No actual name of your own?" the head of CADMUS asked.
"No," came the blunt response.
"I see," Waller said dryly. "My name is Amanda Waller, the current head of CADMUS and acting on behalf of the United States Government. I am here to offer you asylum where we can protect you from anyone who have untoward intentions to your person," she rattled.
"What makes you think I cannot defend myself?" the Dragonborn said in a monotonous tone of voice.
"I cannot profess to know your full capabilities, Mr Dragonborn, but I can tell you that this world is brim with many dangers and factions who would seek to use you for their own ends," Waller said archly.
"Including you," the Dragonborn stated.
"I assure you that my intentions are for the greater good of this world," Waller said coldly.
"And you would use any means necessary to ensure it, even if it meant the cost of innocent lives," the Dragonborn remarked.
Waller frowned and her guards tightened their grip on their weapons. "Mr Dragonborn, I don't know what the Justice League has told you, but let me make it clear that I am not your enemy," she said calmly.
"Your words before suggest otherwise," the slayer of Alduin pointed out. "And given how you acted towards the Princess here, I can safely say that you have some enmity," he then said.
"And you do not hold any ill will towards Wonder Woman for what her sister has done?" Waller asked frostily.
"To judge one person for what someone else has done is senseless in my eyes," the Dragonborn replied. "To judge an entire race of people for what one of their own has done, of her own accord, is even more senseless," he said.
"I see," Waller said dryly. "But why take that chance remaining here? How can you be assured that Wonder Woman may not have similar feelings to what Aresia has and try to finish what she started?" she asked.
"I consider myself a good judge of character," the Dovahkiin said calmly. "And my judgement is telling me that you aren't entirely a good person to accept an offer of asylum from," he added.
"You do not trust me," Waller said rather than asked.
"You have not given me cause to trust you, yet," the Dragonborn said in response. "And from my interaction with the Justice League thus far has given me more reason to trust them over you," he added.
"So I see," Waller said with a dangerous smirk. "This has been… an enlightening discussion. Perhaps later we'll meet on more agreeable terms?" she offered.
"If that is what you wish," Dragonborn said calmly.
Amanda Waller gave another smirk before dropping it as she looked at the Justice League and said to them, "The United Nations have already been informed of this. They will want to meet with Mr Dragonborn with assurances that none of you are hiding him away from the world." With a cold sneer, Waller and her escort then filed back into their shuttlecraft and left the Watchtower.
Almost everyone in the League heaved a collective sigh of relief once Waller and her goon squad left. "That was too close!" Zatanna stated. "God knows what she would've done if you hadn't talked her down," she said looking at the Dragonborn.
"Perhaps I might've gone with her," the Dragonborn said calmly. "But I've dealt with those like this Waller before. She's the schemer, content to sit in the middle of her web and let her underlings do the hard work while reaping the spoils and only getting involved directly if it is evident that she must," he explained.
"Well, in any case, we've now got a meeting the UN tomorrow," Black Canary said. "God knows what might happen when we do," she added grimly.
"Yeah, plus there's a few other details to sort out first," Shayera said looking at the Dragonborn significantly.
"Such as?" the warrior asked noticing the look in the Thanagarian's green eyes.
"You're gonna need a name. We can't keep calling the Dragonborn all the time," Shayera said in response. "So, let's see what we can come up with," she added.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There, fourth chapter of this is done and dusted. I hope you all enjoyed it. Not much in the way of action, and it looks like the next chapter won't have much in the way of action either, but we'll see how it goes.
I've got some ideas for this story such as Elder Scrolls characters and even creatures entering the JLoA universe. One person has asked me if any Elder Scrolls characters besides the Dragonborn will show up and I'm thinking I could at least bring in Serana to the story. As to how I would bring Serana into the story, that I'm kinda struggling with, so if anyone here has any ideas or suggestions, feel free to leave them in your review, or PM them to me. I'd love to brainstorm ideas.
In other news, I am working on yet another GoT/ASOIAF/DC Comics crossover, but I'm trying to decide what the setting should be. With that said, I have a voting poll on my profile of what kind of universe/setting the idea should and so far Dark Knights of Steel seems to be the favourite, followed by a Mortal Kombat setting, and after that a red Sonja/Conan the Barbarian universe setting and a Infinity Crisis/Marvel/DC setting. There are other options, but I won't get into those right now, just have a look at the poll when you get the chance and feel free to cast your vote.
And that's about all I have at the moment, so I'll leave this here and see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.