A/N: More characters being introduced in today's chapter! How is our hero going to react to some of the most frightening forces in Kingdom Hearts universe? Find out below. So enjoy, my fair readers!

Scene 9: Putting it All in a New Perspective

"Eileen, I think this is far too dangerous. Why would we even need to know how to do this?"

"Because our town is small and helpless, little brother. Even if nothing ever happens within our lifetime, I don't want there to be a time where I might have done something but couldn't because I was helpless. Now, look at the can in front of you, and pretend it's attacking you."

"If you say so. Here goes…."

"FIRE!"

A fireball erupted from the end of Jason's staff and hit the wall of his cell. It didn't leave any kind of marking; the Blizzard and Thunder spells had been even less effective.

Jason sat down on his bed to take a break, feeling drained from practicing for the past hour. He could have sworn that he used to be capable of lasting a lot longer; but then, he was at least a year out of practice.

The more time passed, the more the holes in his memories began filling in. After a restless night of sleep, Jason remembered that Eileen had in fact taught him every magic spell he knew, explaining the cryptic comments from his Shadow self. The two main questions Jason had about the whole thing still hadn't been answered, though: why had he forgotten all those memories in the first place, and why was he only just recalling them now?

The door to the cell opened, and a displeased Xigbar entered the room.

"Hey kid," he said. "I really don't appreciate you trying to burn the whole place down, so cut it out."

"That wasn't what I was trying to do," Jason said, and meant it. Well it was technically true, since Jason had given up on the hope of breaking out once he saw how resistant everything in the room was to magic. "I was practicing my magic in preparation for any future combat."

"If you say so," Xigbar said sarcastically. "Well, I'd put on my good boy pants if I were you. The Superior wants to see you right away."

Jason stood up and followed Xigbar out of the cell. It was time for what was going to be the most difficult task to pull off so far - for Jason to bow and grovel for his life.

The final destination this time around appeared to be the rooftop of the castle. Xigbar told him that it was called the Altar of Naught. Given how close the heart-shaped moon was, Jason felt the name was very appropriate.

In the center of the Altar was a man in a black cloak whom Jason presumed was the Superior. The man had dark-brown skin, white hair, deep red eyes, and pointed ears like Xigbar's. The intimidating aura the man was giving off was certainly befitting of a leader.

"I brought the human with me, Xemnas," Xigbar announced.

"Oh, Kingdom Hearts," the Superior said, lifting his arms in the air in reverence. "Please accept this offering that has come before us, as small and insignificant as it may be. Guide us closer to what we all desire. What brings you to this endless abyss?"

Jason wasn't entirely sure what to make of the theatrics on display before him, but he tried his hardest to keep a respectful expression on his face.

"Wait till you hear this," Xigbar said. "Duskie here wants to work for the Organization."

Xemnas turned the entirety of his attention onto Jason, pinning the young boy on the spot.

"Is that so," Xemnas said softly. "Do you truly presume that you're capable of joining the Organization?"

"With all due respect Superior, I just want to go home," Jason said. "I do not wish to involve myself in the business of the Organization."

"Except that I caught this kiddo poking around where he shouldn't be," Xigbar said, relishing his role. "I wouldn't let him out of my sight, personally."

Jason gnashed his teeth in frustration. With so many unanswered questions regarding how his parents were connected to Xigbar, he couldn't just leave well enough alone. Xigbar knew this and was using that fact as a chain to keep Jason in the castle.

"If you truly want to join the Organization," Xemnas said as Heartless sprouted from the ground. "Then you cannot do it in your current form."

"Please!" Jason shouted desperately as he fell to his knees. "I just want to go home. What do I have to do to earn my right to leave this place?"

In his head he could feel his inner Shadow radiate disgust at how easily he was discarding his dignity - but dignity was a commodity he couldn't afford at the moment.

"I think we can ease up on the kid now," Xigbar said. "If he really wants to go home so badly, something can be arranged."

He walked up to Xemnas and began talking to him softer than Jason could pick up. Xemnas did not once change expression the entire time, making it impossible for Jason to discern what was being said.

Finally both Nobodies turned back to face Jason, having decided the human's fate. With a sweep of his arm, Xemnas banished the Heartless, much to Jason's relief.

"If you truly wish to see your home world again," Xemnas said grandly. "Then you must demonstrate your resolve. Prove that you won't be swallowed by your own inner emptiness, no matter how much it grows!"

"Every member of this Organization pulls their own weight, so you'd better chip in yourself if you want to live another day," Xigbar clarified. "So congratulations, Duskie. You're now employed under Organization XIII."

"In what capacity?" Jason asked, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"The very bottom of the food chain, of course," Xigbar said, and he summoned a Dusk, gesturing for Jason to pay attention to it. "For instance, this is who you're going to be reporting to on a daily basis."

Jason stared at the shimmering Nobody, and it seemed to stare back at him. Could it be that this creature had some level of awareness? The teen carefully approached the Nobody, and it didn't attack.

"Hello there," Jason said, holding a hand out. "I am Jason Darnell, and I look forward to working with you."

The Dusk leapt at Jason, wrapped its body around him without actually touching him, then slithered off and disappeared. Jason remained frozen, unsure what had just happened. Xemnas had no reaction to this, but Xigbar was grinning.

"I think that Dusk likes you, kiddo," he quipped. "Well, now that everything's settled, it's back to the cell with you."

As soon as Jason was deposited back into his cell, he went back to training, this time by doing some drills with his Bo staff. According to Xigbar, tomorrow he would meet a member of the Organization that would start him on the path to being a productive member. Not that Jason was an actual member; instead Jason would be working for the right to see another day.

Jason tried to execute a particularly tricky kata, but tripped on his own feet and collided with the floor.

"What are you doing, little brother?"

Eileen slowly rose from the ground, shaking her head in exasperation at her younger brother's antics. She was noticeably translucent, and she floated a few inches from the ground.

"Eileen, what are you doing here!?" Jason exclaimed. If he wasn't mistaken, what his sister was doing was astral projection - a spell that she had dug up from their parents' old magic books. But that still didn't explain what she was doing in this castle.

"I got a ride off of someone in a black cloak," Eileen explained. "A man with dirty-blond hair."

The description Eileen gave sounded unfamiliar, and Jason wondered if this castle really did hold thirteen powerful Nobodies.

"As for why I'm here," Eileen continued. "I was looking for you, of course! But wow, little brother. This is a really bad situation you've found yourself in."

Jason set down his staff and approached his older sister, feeling truly happy for the first time since arriving there. "So are you here to take me out of this place, then?"

Eileen shook her head. "How I wish I could, Jason. But it took everything I had just to make it here, and this form has no offensive options. But there is something I can do."

Eileen sank back into the floor, but before vanishing completely she stopped and looked at her brother reassuringly.

"I'm going to make my way back home," she explained, "and go back into my physical body long enough to relocate it somewhere safe. Then I'll come back here and guide you out of this hellish situation. Hold tight until then."

With that, Eileen left, leaving her brother to go back to his training drills. After healing the bruised leg from his earlier fall, Jason focused once again on maneuvers with his weapon. It would likely be a few days until Eileen came back, so it was up to him to manage on his own until then.

"Superior, are you sure about this? I see no purpose in keeping such fodder among us when we could just as easily gain another Dusk."

"A report from a Dusk I have observing the boy imparted on me some very interesting information. He is willing to seek out a Keyblade if it means advancing his own goals."

"I see. In that case shall I keep tabs on the current wielder?"

"There is still much time until the Keyblade is sufficiently nurtured. In the end, the one who holds it doesn't really matter."

A/N: When I first came up with the concept of Jason Darnell, I imagined his as a "pragmatic human". I hope this chapter has demonstrated what he's willing to do to survive. Jason's morality system will be explored further in future chapters. See you next time! Please review.