Allies Assemble

“So, we’ll have to sneak out through the back door and hop the fence into the neighbor’s yard. That’ll let us get past the surveillance van the Order has out front,” John decided as he and the twins, who were in their disguises, exited John’s house through the back door.

“So they have your house surveilled out front but not the back?” asked Mikuru, curious as to why the Order would do that.

“It’s simple, Mikuru. Lord Brighton is an arrogant man who thinks I would never deduce that he had my house under surveillance or that his adopted daughter would betray him. But she did and I know, so thus we can travel through where he just has groups patrolling and not parked waiting for us,” explained John, to which Mikuru nodded in agreement.

“Man, that guy is soooooooooo full of himself. It’s clearly gonna be his downfall!” pointed out Miho. The other two sighed at Miho’s comment and continued their walk to the bus stop.

“So, we’ll have to grab my mom on the way back and take her to the kingdom. It won’t exactly be the best time to explain to her what is happening, but it needs to be done. Also, I’ll give Vanessa orders to speak of nothing relating to the Abyss and send her home. That way, if we fail and die, she can at least live a normalish life. Although...I’m sure nobody would miss her if she did die with us...” John said as his mind began to wonder.

“John,” was all Mikuru had to say to get her intent across. John sighed and nodded his head in response.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll let her go home before the battle. But she’ll have a command to return to me tomorrow after school. She does need training after all!” John decided with a smile on his face of what he planned to do to Vanessa once this whole ordeal was behind him. The three continued to chit chat as they waited for the bus and on their trip to their destination.

The three got off the bus in the downtown area where there was a lot of building renovations going on. The three made their way along the sidewalks and alleyways as they followed the directions Sarah had texted to John yesterday. This little journey of theirs took them to a half finished building where the three sensed a barrier in place.

“Well, looks like this is the place,” John said as the three brought up their hands to allow access to the barrier. A quick flash of light appeared as the three were accepted into the foreign barrier.

You have entered the barrier of the Grey Jedi. As you expected, you are considered friendly in the barrier and can leave at any time.

John and the girls dismissed the message as they made their way further into the barrier. John couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched. His suspicions were confirmed when, out of the shadows, stepped various men and women in grey cloaks.

“Hello, young John Newman,” said the man in front of John. “We have heard quite a bit about you from Padawan Tasra. She has told us what challenges await you and while the Jedi Council would rather hide in the shadows like the Sith, we Grey Jedi will stand by you, under one condition,” the grizzled old man told John.

“Of course. I would not expect your assistance to come without some sort of cost,” John said, his eyes locked with the old man.

“We **** users have to hide from the Order, because of their ancient writ to snuff us out. While we have stayed hidden for centuries from them, we are not foolish enough to think the Order leaders don’t know we still exist. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was only the Wardens and their advisers that know **** users still exist,” he explained to John. “So, if we help you defend your kingdom, we would like to be able to call on you for assistance in the future. Help for help, sound fair?” asked the gruff, older man.

“I see no problem with that. It’s only fair that if I call on you for assistance you can call on me for assistance. So, who will be assisting us? All of your or...” John just kind of trailed off.

“I asked my followers if any would want to volunteer to assist you in your battle. 20 of our finest have stepped up to assist you. I, of course, could not risk us all battling and being wiped out. I hope you understand. We will have to move our people from the city, since the Order is here in such ****. Hopefully the Inquisitors don’t find us,” said the man.

“You don’t have to worry about the Inquisitors, they’ve been...dealt with,” John reassured the man.

“If what you say is true, that would indeed make our job easier,” he said as he looked up to his people. “Everyone, line up! This man has agreed to our conditions. As such, we shall honor our deal. Raina, you were the first to volunteer, so you shall be the leader of our forces in the battle.” he spoke to his people. The man then looked to John and continued. “I am Grey Jedi Grand Master Jim Reeves, and I pledge that my people shall come to your aid when you call on us,” Jim told John, who accepted his pledge.

“And I, King John Newman of Terebris, pledge to assist our new allies whenever they call for it!” he told Master Reeves.

It was at this time that John noticed a girl in a grey robe with its hood up approached them. He heard the minor clank of metal on the floor and wondered what exactly caused that noise as the girl he assumed was Raina made her way over to them.

“You honor me with the chance to lead our people in this battle,” said the feminine voice.

“You have a great future ahead of you, Raina. I can sense it. Your place on the High Council is all but guaranteed if you keep up your diligence to your cause. You shall go with John to his transportation to his kingdom. The others will follow you in small groups, as to avoid suspicion. Now go, and do us proud!” Raina’s leader told her, to which she merely nodded in agreement. The girl quickly turned to John.

“My name is Raina Zathria, knight of the Grey Jedi, and I shall be your main contact with the Order. Is there anything I need to know?” she asked her new colleague.

“It is nice to meet you, Raina. I’m John, and this is Miho and Mikuru,” he said as he pointed to each twin. “The main thing is to get into my Kingdom you need a special brand only I can give you. I’ll give you a diplomatic brand, which should let you do most things in the kingdom,” John told her as he held out his hand. She responded by placing her own hand on top of his. John’s free hand came down on her hand as he cast King’s Brand on the Grey Jedi, marking her as his, albeit temporarily.

“Is that all? Shall we go now?” asked Raina, a hint of eagerness in her voice.

“Of course, let’s go,” said John as the group of four left the Grey Jedi’s barrier and made their way back to his home.

“Altheh deamonica saratush orealash,” chanted Mrs. Wentworth over a pentagram drawn in a red substance. A candle sat at each point, their flames burned a bright blue. The woman chanted these words over and over again as a small hole appeared and slowly became larger. She stopped her chant when the hole was large enough for an average sized person to come through.

“There we go. Now time for you to pay your debt to me, Uratha,” said Mrs. Wentworth to the hole. An unintelligible noise came through the hole, to which the woman shrugged at. “Fine, we’ll do this the hard way,” she said as she thrust her arms into the new apparent portal and dragged out a demon.

“Dammit, woman! I was having a nice sleep!” yelled the naked female demon.

“I don’t care, Uratha. You owe me a debt, and I am collecting,” commanded John’s teacher.

“Really? And what can this humble demoness do for you, oh mighty witch?” asked Uratha, her words drenched in sarcasm.

“One of my students turned out to be a late bloomer, and a rather curious one at that. He has asked for my aid in a battle against the Order, and you are my assistance,” Uratha just stared at Mrs. Wentworth for a few moments, just to see if the old woman had finally gained a sense of humor. It quickly became apparent she had not.

“You’re joking right? Please say that you are joking. That is the most idiotic, asinine thing I have ever heard! Nobody fights the Order and survives! You die! That’s all that organization is good for, ****! And that’s coming from a demon!” stammered out the indentured demon.

“I am well aware, demon. I am also aware your debt bounds you to do whatever I bid, and this is what I bid. So you will go, and you will assist him. You may even be surprised at what the boy can do. I shall watch his career with great interest. Now go, but first, let me apply this mark on you so you can enter his kingdom. If you try to do anything to harm him, or his subjects, the mark will kill you. So I expect you to be on your best behavior, understand?” asked Mrs. Wentworth, who only left one response as the correct answer.

“Yes, of course. Let’s get this over with,” she said as she stuck out her hand.

“No, I think I’ll put it here,” said Mrs. Wentworth as she grabbed the demon’s left tit. “I’m sure young Mr. Newman will enjoy where I put this when he no doubt asks to see it,” she said with a smirk on her face.

“I hate you, so, so much,” grumbled the demon.