AN: And we're back! I passed my AEMT and been busy with work and other stories but I got this chapter out which is a little shorter but sets up the ass kicking to come. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

The Witness

Michonne's eyelids began squirming, her brows knitted and alas they opened. She found herself upon a bed in a foreign room and quickly figured she had made the trip. Then to her astonishment she found Morgan sitting in a chair at her bedside.

"Glad to see you're awake."

She went to sit up, but groaned in pain, then fell back while holding her stomach.

"I wouldn't agitate it too much, you're very lucky the bullet didn't hit your intestines or we would have had some real problems. Fortunately they still had some fentanyl for the pain but needs to be used sparingly."

She just gawked at him in near disbelief, "Did you find Carol?"

"Yeah don't worry, she's here too." he replied almost in a whisper.

She laid back and stared at the ceiling, "This whole time we were wondering where you two had been. I never would have guessed a renaissance fair."

"Yeah they got some strange customs, but it's a good place of sanctuary."

"Where's Maggie and John?"

"They're both here, which leads me to ask, where on earth did that other guy come from?"

Michonne scratched her head to recollect, "I'm not sure, he showed up at Alexandria, Rick knew him, the saviors came for and he gunned them down."

Morgan lifted his face slightly as if taking a maddening theory as an absolute truth, "How many saviors did he kill?"

Another voice came through, "Yes, how much of our enemy did this man tally among the dead?"

It was Ezekiel accompanied by Jerry who who was listening eagerly.

Michonne was taken aback leaving it up to Morgan to explain to her this man of whom she had no introduction.

"This is King Ezekiel, he is in charge of the kingdom."

"And grants you sanctuary within my walls." he added.

Seeing her still baffled, Ezekiel brought the topic back to the reason of his visit, "This man you travel with, John Wick, he lays claim to the death of more than two dozen saviors before dusk. I am wary that his proclamation may be grander than what actually had unfolded, yet he declares this feet has been witnessed by you and Maggie. So as King I ask of you, is this true?"

Michonne bit her lower lip and scowled at everyone then said, "Well forgive me, my liege, but everyone who has been asking about John has been trying to kill me and Maggie. So I ask you, why do you want to know?"

The assented his chin then addressed the others, "Morgan, Jerry you may leave us alone for the time being."

They departed with Jerry reminding, "I'm just out here if you need me."

The king took a seat that he pulled up closer to the bed so they could have a more intimate conversation. He put his hand up in solemnity and said, "You have my word as king, that I seek you no harm, I swear to you that as long as this oath remains unviolated so too shall the kingdom prosper or may the reverse be my lot."

She still would not give utterance.

Ezekiel looked around, sighed then said quietly, "Hey look, I'm just a guy whose trying to do right by everyone. This whole king act wasn't my idea."

She gave him a more inquisitive look in which the king went on, "You see,I have a pet tiger who follows me around and is absolutely loyal to my every command. You know how I got her to do that?"

She shook her head.

"All I ever did was tie a shirt around her injured leg to keep her from bleeding to death. Since then she ain't never shown so much as a tooth at me. She could yank the chain and take my arm with it but she don't. That's the truth, but what are other people saying? Well, their version of the story goes that I wrestled and tamed a savage beast with my bare hands and that she yields to me because I bested her in mortal combat. As a result people started treating me like a king, so I just acted the part because I noticed when people feel safe they're less dangerous and more productive. Who am I to burst their bubble?"

Michonne communicated with her eyes that she was listening but not quite ready to give up her stance.

"But the thing is Michonne, I'm just some guy who, if that tiger wanted, would be torn apart in a second. I'm no royalty, I'm just an actor, but if it gives people hope then that's what I'll do. I want to fight the saviors, I want these people to be safe, I want to help your friend John but the thing is, can he really wrestle a tiger?"

She took a deep breathe then said, "I've only known him since this morning, but I can tell you that he didn't kill two dozen saviors, he's killed three three…"

"You serious?"

"Help him in whatever way you can to kill Negan and the rest, and I bet he'll have it done before tomorrow."

He leaned back with a look of satisfaction to her testimony. After arising he retook his mantle, "I would seek for myself the testimony of Maggie, but you speak with such zeal and conviction that it would be dishonorable to doubt thine accounts. So it shall be that the kingdom will employ the power of this John Wick!"

…

In the meantime Marcus and Cassian could be seen loading their armaments into the back of a van with Eugene adjusting some dials on a HAM radio. As the sliding door was shut, Marcus loaded into the driver's side with his counterpart taking shotgun. At that moment Eugene came to the driver's window to inform them of what was happening.

"I've found the right frequency, now we need to make sure the right ears hear it." he said.

Rubbing the steering column Marcus asked, "How do you want to go about that?"

Eugene was quick to answer, as always, "Whatever help John solicits from the kingdom, they'll be sure to keep an ear out on whatever communication devices they own.' then handing them a set of radios, 'these are tuned into an unencrypted channel off of the radio tower's frequency."

"Easier for anyone to listen in on." said Cassian that sounded more like a ridicule than a question.

"Yes, just repeat a message regarding Dwight and Simon's whereabouts every so often. I'm sure a member of the kingdom will hear it and relay it to John."

Marcus turned the engine over and gave him a somewhat passive look, "Alright then, I guess we'll be on our way."

He backed up so quickly that Eugene retreated a few paces, then watched the van make a rather harsh exit out of the compound and down the road. The two assassins went along their way silently, both unwilling to speak of what was weighing them down. Marcus eventually decided to break the ice.

"So, you ever think we'd be the ones to try and kill John Wick?"

Cassian lifted his head off his arm, "No, I never anticipate who my next target is, I just get the name and a plan. This is no different."

"Is it?' sighed Marcus.

"What's your problem?"

"What do you mean, 'what's my problem?' the most well known member of the organization, all this shit breaks out, we don't hear from him in what, six years? And now we find out he's alive and the first thing we do when we see him is try and kill him?"

"Yeah, so?"

"That doesn't bother you?"

Cassian leaned up, "It doesn't matter, we have a job to do. And we have to follow the rules or else-"

"We're just like the animals." finished Marcus with a sense of gloom.

The van rolled down the road modestly while making a few course corrections here and there to avoid dilapidated vehicles, walkers and other obstacles. Not too long after, the radio tower began peaking over the horizon as they drew nearer. Marcus piloted the vehicle into the main lot which was quickly approached by two Saviors standing guard.

They motioned the two to roll their windows down and, once they did, the one on the driver's side put his hand over the door and peered in, "And who the hell are you guys supposed to be?"

Marcus remained calm and somewhat innocent, "Didn't you get the news?"

"Bout what?"

"The little change of hands your boss undertook."

Hawking out a loogie the man replied, "Yeah I heard something."

Marcus motioned to Cassian then himself, "Well we're here on behalf of Negan to help you with a pest control problem."

The guard minced his lips around while Cassian deadened his glare upon the one at his door. Patting the driver's side door the guard said, "Well right on then. Get inside, Dwight and Simon'll sure be glad to have you aboard."

"Don't count on it." said Cassian quietly as he disembarked.

They grabbed their gear out of the van and proceeded to walk into the radio tower to eventually be lead into a room with a table where they could unload their burdens.

As Marcus was situating his wares, Dwight and Simon walked in behind them with the latter saying with a pride induced smile, "Looks like the cavalry has arrived!"

They said nothing in return other than looking over their shoulder partly before unlatching their boxes and lifting the hinges up. From there, they could see Marcus had a Ruger 277 fitted with a suppressor, tactical scope and bipod. Cassian was showing to have a Glock 34 and a TTI TR1-ultralight complete with scope, grip and laser sight.

"And the calvary brought Christmas with em!" laughed Simon being taken by the arms.

Dwight had his share of awe but kept his distance when considering how much the two assassins were becoming annoyed with their ogling. After Simon rubbed his hands together he asked, "So boys, what do you need of us?"

Cassian addressed him with a hardened scowl, "Take us to the communications room."

"You got it!" he said then slapped Marcus on the shoulder who withdrew slightly from it.

They followed him out down the hallways and into the communications room. Cassian, without any word or notice, began tuning the dials to change up the frequency to the one Eugene informed them of.

Simon saw it and said with a calm tone of jest, "Whoa, careful there, that's a main broadcast channel, anyone can hear it if we squeal over that one."

Cassian simply stared at him, almost with hatred then lifted a radio to his mouth and said, "Just in from Negan, Dwight and Simon are positioned at the old radio tower off of Highway 2."

All gravity from Simon's face dropped while Dwight appeared frenzied, "Whoa, whoa! What the fuck are you doing!" he yelled while advancing on him.

Cassian took him by the lapels in an iron grip and pushed him over a nearby desk. Dwight telegraphed his plan to intervene but was herded off by Marcus who got between them.

"Gentlemen, relax, it's all part of the plan." said Marcus.

"Like hell,' yelled Simon, 'you're using us as live bait. Whose dumb ass idea was this!?"

Cassian gritted his teeth and leaned in, "Guess!"

Dwight stuttered, "Negan?"

Marcus put his hands up passively, "Hey in all fairness I think after what all you've done, it's a soft punishment."

"But what good are you if we get killed?" protested Dwight.

"Let me be perfectly clear!' corrected Marcus, 'We are not here to keep you alive we're here to kill John Wick. You getting killed is just a formality."

"So we run!" said Simon.

Cassian slightly chuckled, "Negan plans on coming down for this so imagine what'll happen if he gets here and you're not."

"Oh God…" sighed Dwight while threading his fingers through his hair.

"So are we all settled then?" asked Marcus.

Simon shook his head, "Fuck you guys…"

Marcus smiled rather happily, "Well good. If you don't mind I'd like to scout the place out some more."

Cassian's hold on Simon released with him jerking away and shaking himself off. Marcus in the meantime stepped out to observe the trees. He meandered about going up hills and other high places until at last deciding on two hills, one that overlooked the main entrance and another that peered into a specific window.

"That's where I'll do it when push comes to shove." he thought to himself.

He then lifted a radio to his mouth and broadcasted, "Hey, where's Dwight and Simon? Are they at the compound?"
After some static Cassian replied, "They're at the radio station off Highway 2."

…

Back at the kingdom, John was seen by himself awaiting the king who, when he finally appeared seemed rather chipper and gave him a smile that took him aback.

"Well then, John,' started his grace, 'the voice of thine witnesses has spoken thy favor. The kingdom shall now in whatever degree necessary, assist you in ridding the land of the Saviors."

John dinted his eyebrows with a nod, "Take me to Jesus."

The king brought up his staff and said as he turned, "But of course!" then departed bidding John to follow. Just outside the door frame was Morgan who had been assigned to stand guard while the finalities were being sorted out and was given a notion in the king's body language to come along as well.

John was guided through a series of corridors, then outside and inside another building before finally taken to a type of suite where a man wearing black with long hair and beard was waiting in a white room.

"Jesus,' greeted Ezekiel, 'the day that marks the end of the Savior's reign is vastly approaching us."

Confused he asked, "How so?"

Moving aside so he could present John he said with founded enthusiasm, "This man goes by the name of John Wick and has been proven by the mouthes of his witnesses that he is a one man army capable of standing against the Savior's alone and slaying Negan."

John, appearing a bit flustered by the over display of attention, he being a man of discretion, nodded to Jesus and spoke for himself, "I was told you could help me."

Jesus kept his pallet blank, "That depends, a death wish is your own business but this easily could come back on me and the kingdom and anyone ever associated with you."

Ezekiel advocated, "Oh ye of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

"Your majesty,' replied Jesus, 'you've seen what happens when you're just one cantaloupe short. Think of the blow back if they so much as whiffed a plot to have Negan killed."

"Dwight and Simon come first,' said John, 'then Negan."

Jesus clasped the top of his head, gasped slightly and paced around with astonishment, "Oh geez…"

Coming back to, he asked, "Where do I come into any of this?"

"I've heard you know how to find them."

"Did you also hear that I would do it for free?" responded Jesus with a hint of ridicule.

"Not exactly, but whatever you want in return, I'll make sure you get it."

Jesus smirked with disbelief, "Trust me that would be an impossible task."

"Try me."

At this point his eminence intervened, "The hour grows short and the time to act is waining. As king and friend I implore you to assist Jesus."

An idea was suddenly seen sparking in the man's brain in the form of a lifted eyebrow, "Assist?' then re-diverted topics, 'Okay I can help you this much."

All party members became attentive.

"I keep tabs on the Saviors through their radios, from what I've heard they put Dwight and Simon at their old radio tower off highway 2. Which I thought was weird seeing how; one, they usually operate out of the compound and two, they normally don't broadcast on unencrypted channels. Tell me, do these guys know you?"

"You could say that."

"Then expect this to be a lure for a trap."

Ezekiel upheld his staff with royal conviction, "Then you must not endure by your own will. What can the kingdom offer you John?"

He turned with a slanted head and cool eyes, "Guns, lots of guns."

A slight tsk escaped his lips, "Unfortunately I have none to spare for the Savior's seized them all from our very hands. However I can impart of my knights to come along."

John was hesitant, "I'm sorry, but no one else from the kingdom should die on my account."

"Then I'll go." spoke up Morgan which took most the others by surprise.

"Are you sure of this?" asked the king.

"Someone has to go with him."

John was the most unwilling to approve, "With just your staff?"

Jesus nervously licked his lips then said, "I might be able to find some guns and ammo from a few outposts, it'll be risky, but I think I can nab just enough for you two."

Morgan turned his eye over, "Actually, make that three. There's someone else who can come with us."

"Who?" asked John.

Morgan passively switched hands that held his staff, "Follow me."

As Jesus was departing to make good on his word John was following behind Morgan who lead him out onto the dirt roads that lead up a hill further away from the kingdom. As they proceeded up a small, well worn house could be seen rearing around the sliding brim of trees and high brush of which John had rightly guessed was their destination.

Morgan kept the lead that eventually placed him on the porch near the door then gave it three knocks. John lifted his eyes upon hearing someone on the other side approach and unfasten the bolt. The door frame exposed slightly with Morgan being the first one to address the individual, "Hello, Carol. Can we come in?"