CHAPTER 3: Mail-Call

JOHN'S POV

It's been roughly a couple hours since my flight landed in Marshall and I'm now with one of my brother in law's Humphrey as we are just leaving the store with an annual grocery run.

"So, how long until your next deployment?" He asks me.

"I believe I was able to secure my 3 weeks of vacation leave. Lemme just take a quick look and...Yep as of tomorrow I am off for the next 3 weeks." I reply.

"Oh nice. Hey, I just found out Kate comes back from Iraq on Saturday. So we could easily plan some stuff to do." Kate being both one of my 2 sisters and Humphrey's wife.

"Now tap the breaks for a second. She along with Lilly will be pretty tired from this tour so they will need some much needed rest. And to top it all off, I don't know how long they each have until their next tour of duty." I added.

"I'm aware of that, besides I wasn't meaning to do something right away obviously she will be tired. I meant more after she gets that rest of hers."

"Right, okay then. Let's first head home I can tell Zildjian is getting rather impatient in the back right now." I laughed as I pet her head. She gives a rather half hearted whine.

Zildjian is my 5 year old German Shepherd who is my service dog after my diagnosis with PTSD back in 2014 (I will touch on that in a later chapter). I was even able to make her a member of the Air Force as well since I had no plans on leaving after receiving my diagnosis. So everywhere I flew, she's always been with me and my crewmates love her.

We finally get home to see an male duck standing at the door. Both of us being a bit concerned decided to approach with caution.

"Um, can we help you?" I ask

"Yes my name is Dai. I am a worker for the Jade Palace located in the Valley of Peace. I have a letter from Master Viper." He replies as he proceeds to give us the letter.

"Oh, what did she want?" Humphrey asks back.

"She didn't say other than she wanted it delivered today. So here you go gentlemen and have a good rest of the day."

"You too sir and tell Viper we said hi." I thanked him back.

We walked inside with groceries in hand and the letter to boot. 10 minutes later and with groceries all put away I sat down on the couch and opened the letter.

"Who's it for?" Humphrey asks.

"Dunno, I'm about to find out." I reply

I proceed to open it up and unfold it. It stated the following:

Dear John,

I hope you received the letter Dai gave to you. If so then I would like to personally meet with you on Tuesday this week in the village to discuss an event taking place at the Palace on Saturday coming up. I hope to see you tomorrow and can't wait to talk to you again. Best regards,

Viper.

I stared at the letter after reading it for a few seconds.

"Well?"

"The letter was for me. Viper wants me to meet with her tomorrow to discuss an event taking place Saturday at the Palace."

"Really, what's taking place?"

"I don't know, she didn't say. I'm assuming it's something big since it's at the Palace. It helps that she wants to meet me tomorrow though."

"And why is that?" Humphrey asks

"I was planning on going to the village anyways to get some new drum heads." I answer.

Myself, my sisters, their husbands, and my friend Hutch have been in a band together since high school. We are a metal cover band that mainly just do shows on the weekends at local bars or clubs back home in Dallas. Once we got to Marshall we somehow managed to play at local events both in Marshall and even in the Village that neighbors the Jade Palace for 5 years now. Funny enough, for the past 2 years we've been invited to the local festivals that take place in the village and even made friends with a local band who also happens to be a metal cover band too. (If anyone's interested into John's music background, It will be in one of the optional chapters I plan on adding later on in the story)

Being the drummer of the band, I wanted to get some drum heads since they haven't been changed in a bit and they are pretty much due to be swapped out as well.

"Oh well since you plan on going, do you mind getting me some new strings too? I'll pay you back." He asks me

"No problem dude. Do Hutch and Garth need any as well?" I answer back.

"Hold on lemme check real quick." Humphrey grabs his phone.

A couple minutes later his phone goes off.

"Ok they both said yes for the new strings."

"How many packs do you guys need?" I ask

"Myself and Hutch both would like 2 and Garth just 1."

"Ok cool, lemme just put that to my list. Any specific kind?"

"For me the Ernie Ball RPS', Hutch the Ernie Ball Skinny Bottom Heavy Top and Garth the Cobalt Hybrids." Humphrey says

"Cool. So that settles everything then. I will be able to take care of that tomorrow."

"Thanks John."

Anytime dude."

Back at the Palace

Viper's POV

I was just finishing up cleaning the dining area since it was my turn to make us dinner when I noticed Dai walking in the hallway.

"Hello Dai."

"Oh good evening Master Viper."

"Were you able to give the letter?"

"As a matter of fact, the 2 gentlemen who lived there were just arriving as I was about to knock on the door. I even mentioned that you wanted it delivered today."

"Perfect, thank you very much Dai"

"No problem Master Viper. Have a good night."

"You too."

I then put away the last dishes and headed back to my room. I was relieved to hear the news that John got the letter. I was looking forward to seeing John, not because he's a good friend of mine, but also I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he hears what Master Shifu and Master Oogway have planned for him and his band.