Chapter 4: The Black Order

Allen and Alice finally reach to the Black Order headquarters but in order to reach there they have to climb up the cliff to reach the actual building. Seeing they have no choice, the two decided to climb up with Alice on Allen's back as the girl has their bags on her back. As Allen climbs up there are thousands of black golems around them watching their progress.

"Hah… hah…" Allen breaths. "Why… why the heck did they build this place all the way up here?"

"Allen, you okay?" Alice asks.

"Somehow… we're almost there!"

Once they reach the top of the cliff both of them immediately see a large building in front of them as this is the Black Order.

Alice gets off and Allen is on his knees heaving.

"Hah… hah…" He then sits down on the ground and looks up. "Finally… we made it…" Allen says tiredly. "The main Headquarters of the Exorcist… the Black Order." The Black Order is a high layered building. Allen looks up with a face. "…Or is it?" Allen asks as he looks at the building in a perplex expression. "I've heard stories, but… the surrounding sure has a weird feeling to them. Is this really the place, Timcanpy?" He asks the golem which it nods as Allen stands up and pulls his sleeves down.

"Anyway, let's get going." Alice says as she gets up and grabs her bag. Allen does the same thing and they head towards the tall building.


In the Black Order

Many people wearing lab coat over their clothing watching a screen that shows Allen and Alice through the black golems and there is a young woman wearing different clothes also watching this. She has dark green pulled into two high pigtails and purple eyes. The clothes she wears is a uniform that is tight, short jacket with long sleeves and short skirts.

Then a man walks into the room with a mug of coffee in his hand seeing the Allen and Alice on the screen. The man has dark eyes and long dark hair that curls at the end. He wears a pair of wire-frame, pentagonal glasses, a light blue turtleneck sweater, white pants and a white beret along with a white coat.

"Who are those kids?" He asks while fixing his glasses. "No, no, no, you can't let outsiders come in here~~. Why didn't you stop them?"

Oh, Supervisor Komui." A man who is sitting on the sofa, Reever says looking at the man he called Komui. "Those two seem a little different than a normal outsider."

"Look here, nii-san!" The girl says. "These two. They're accompanied by the General Cross' golem." She points at Timcanpy on the screen.

"Excuse me–" Allen's voice calls out as he and Alice looks around. "We were sent here by Priest Cross Marian. I'm Allen Walker and this is Alice Lakefield." Allen tells the black golem. "We would like to discuss some issues with the priests."

"Friends on the General! He's still alive after all!" A scientist says.

"The boy is saying he is to be 'introduced'." Reever says. "Supervisor, have you heard anything?"

"…Nope." He answers.


Outside the Black Order

"Take the examination behind you." Reever says.

"Huh?" Allen and Alice say and turn around.

The Gatekeeper, a giant face locates between the two gates in the large wall. Allen is speechless.

"Hi." Alice says. "Nice to meet you."

The Gatekeeper suddenly very close to Alice and Allen.

'Hee–!' Allen and Alice thought.

"X-ray examination. Determining subject is Akuma or human." The Gatekeeper's eyes lights up and flashes onto the both of them.

"Wha…" Allen says.

In the Gatekeeper's eyes, Allen and Alice couldn't show up.

"They won't show up? Is it a bug?" The Gatekeeper says. Then the Gatekeeper's eyes marked "X" and its mouth opens widely. "THESE TWO ARE OUTTA HERE!" The Gatekeeper screams causing everyone inside the headquarters who are watching are all surprise at the result as Alice and Allen are shocked of this.

"Eh!?" Allen says.

"THESE TWO ARE A BUG." The Gatekeeper cries. "THE BOY'S FOREHEAD, HIS PENTACLE IS CURSED! THE GIRL WOULDN'T SHOW UP! OUT, OUT! THE PENTACLE IS THE MARK OF AN AKUMA. THIS GUY IS ACTUALLY… A FRIEND OF THE MILLENNIUM EARL!"

"WHA-WHAT?!" Allen screams.


In the Black Order

"WHAT–!?" Everyone shouts.

"INTRUDER ALERT, INTRUDER ALERT!"

"HEY, ARE THE EXORCISTS IN THE BUILDING…!" Reever asks Number 65.

"They're all okay." Number 65 answers.

"Kanda is already here!" The girl says looking at the screen showing a young Japanese man on the top of the Gatekeeper. He has long blue hair tied in a high ponytail and dark eyes. He wears the Exorcist uniform but his bandaged chest is shown along with his sword in his hand.


Outside the Black Order

The man, Kanda, glares at Allen and Alice. "You sure have courage, coming here…" He states unsheathing his sword.

"WA–WAIT A MOMENT!" Allen screams while putting his hand up. "I THINK YOU'VE MISTAKEN ME FOR SOME—"

Kanda didn't let Allen finish and he slashes at Allen. Allen blocks it with Cross.

"WHA–" Allen says. "UGH!" Allen grunts and sees that Cross is nicked.

'He damaged Allen's Anti-Akuma Weapon!' Alice exclaims in her head.

'This can withstand a bullet from an Akuma. But with just one hit, he… is it possible that katana…' Allen thought.

"You… what's with that arm?" Kanda asks.

"…This is an Anti-Akuma Weapon. I am an Exorcist." Allen answers.

"What?" Kanda asks and then he sharply glares at the Gatekeeper. "GATEKEEPER!"

"But… well, if I can't determine their insides, how can we know for sure!? What is he an Akuma!?" The Gatekeeper says.

"WE'RE HUMANS!" Allen cries. "WELL TO TELL THE TRUTH, I AM A TINY BUT CURSED, BUT I'M STILL A NICE HUMAN!" Allen touches the Gatekeeper's face.

"GYAAA~~~ DON'T TOUCH ME, DIMWIT!"

"Hmph… well, whatever." Kanda says and he gets in a ready position. "If I check your inside, we will know for sure! Activate! Anti-Akuma Weapon! I shall slice you with this 'Mugen'." the katana glows.

'A katana-type Anti-Akuma Weapon!' Alice thought and she activates Silver and split into twin swords and she blocks Kanda's attack.

"Alice?!" Allen calls.

"We're not your enemies! You should have gotten a letter of recommendation from General Cross!" Alice exclaims.

"A letter recommendation… from the General…? Kanda questions.

"Yes, a letter…" Alice answers.

'Jeez, scary…' Allen thought.


Inside the Black Order

"Addressed to a person named Komui." Alice adds.

Everyone looks at Komui and he points to a random scientist.

"You there!" he shouts.

"Ye-yes?"

"Search my desk!" Komui orders.

"Tha… that…" The scientist stutters but goes to look for the letter in the end.

"Komui nii-san/Supervisor Komui…" The girl and Reever calls.

"I'll help too!" Komiu turns around goes towards his desk. After some search, the scientist found it.

"HERE!" He said. "I FOUND IT! THE LETTER FROM THE GENERAL CROSS!"

"Read it!"

"'To Komui: Soon I will be sending two kids. The girl, Alice and the boy, Allen over there. Thanks. From Cross.'"

"Right! So it's true." Komui says. "Squad Leader Reever, stop Kanda!"

"CLEAN YOUR DESK ONCE IN A WHILE!" Reever shouts at his superior. "KANDA, STOP YOUR ATTACK!"

"Lenalee." Komui calls her sister who is watching the screen with the other scientists. "Help me set up. Two new members have arrived." Komui pours some more coffee into his mug while the Gatekeeper does as it is told and opens the gate. "A boy and a girl sent by Cross, huh... I'll have some fun judging them~!" He says and sips his coffee.


Outside the Black Order

"We allow you to pass," Komui says. "Allen Walker and Alice Lakefield."

Silver turns back into a bracelet and Kanda is now pointing Mugen at Alice.

"Wait, wait, Kanda!" Komui said.

"Komui…" Kanda calls. "What is going on here?" He asks.

"I'm sorry~ simply to put, these two are General Cross' pupils." Komui explains. "Say sorry, Squad Leader Reever. Go on, go on."

"YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!" Reever shouts angrily.

"Timcanpy is with them, that is the proof. He is on our side." Komui says.

"T-T-T-T-That's right!" Allen stutters as he nods his head.

"We came all the way here by our Master's recommendation, right, Tim?" Alice asks the golden golem.

Kanda continues to glare at the two until he is hit by a clipboard. Alice and Allen look at who hit him and see Lenalee behind the swordman.

"Gosh~ We told you to stop!" Lenalee says as Kanda put his hand where she hit, glaring at her. "If you don't come in soon. I'm going to close the gate. Enter!" She points at the gate and they all go through the gate before it closes and enters the building. "I am Lenalee, the assistant to the Supervisor." Lenalee greets. "I'll be taking you two the Supervisor. Nice to meet you."

"I am Alice. Nice to meet you too." Alice says to Lenalee and she smiles when Allen notices Kanda leaving.

"Oh Kanda." He calls and Kanda looks at him glare. "…That was your name, right…?" Allen holds out his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Kanda looks at Allen silently.

"Who would want to shake hands with a cursed person?" Kanda questions and walks away.

'Discrimination…' Allen thought.

"I'm sorry," Lenalee apologizes. "He just got back from a mission, and he's a bit tired." She continues to take them to the Supervisor.


Wherever the Great Generals are

They have pictures of Alice and Allen.

"Allen Walker… Alice Lakefield, huh…" Great General A says.


'So this is the Black Order…' Allen thought. Before heading to the Supervisor, Lenalee shows them the cafeteria, training room, lounge, and other places that they've pass.

"There are other places too, such as the sanatorium, library, and individual rooms. I'll take you to those later on." Lenalee explains.

"You get individual rooms!?" Allen asks.

"All Exorcists go off to their missions from here. So, some people call this base, 'HOME'." Lenalee says. "There are those who purposely don't come back here though…" She adds.

Both Allen and Alice thought, 'My master…' They shook their thoughts off and look around. 'HOME, huh…'

Lenalee continues the tour until they reach on a certain Level as Allen and Alice notice about the rooms.

"Ah! What kind of rooms are on this floor?" Allen asks.

"You don't want to know." Lenalee answers.

"Why?" Alice asks.

"You just don't." Lenalee turns around and goes down the stairs. "Okay, let's get going."


At the Science Section

"Hello, how are you today?" Komui greets. "I am Komui Lee, the scientific group supervisor."

The two follow Komui down the stairs along with Lenalee.

"I welcome you both, Allen and Alice. There was a little trouble earlier, eh~!" Komui says leading the three to a room and in the room had a table covers with a sheet and stools, and different jars in the cabinets. "So, can you show me your arm, Allen?"

"Huh?" Allen says.

"A while ago, you were attacked by Kanda and your weapon was damaged." The supervisor explains and pulls three stools to sit on. "No need to hold back." Allen did as he was told putting his left arm on the table and Komui examines it. "Looks like the nerve cords are damaged. Lenalee, bring me the anesthesia." Komui asks his sister and turns back to Allen. "Can you activate it?"

"Ah, sure." Allen answers activates his arm.

"Oh!" Komui exclaims in surprise. "Hmmm… you are a parasitism type." He then looks at Alice. "Can you activate yours?"

"All right." Alice answers and brings her wrist out that has her bracelet before activating it into Silver (bow form).

"Oh! You have an equipment type. Would you place your Anti-Akuma Weapon besides Allen's?"

Alice does as she told and places Silver besides Cross.

"Um… parasitism… and equipment… type?" Allen repeats.

"For parasitism, it means you're a compatible person who can turn his/her body into a weapon. Out of the many different types of Anti-Akuma Weapons, it's the rarest type. For equipment is very common for Exorcist to use." Komui suddenly got a large drill and a scary drill out with a creepy smile on his face. "Since a parasitism-type weapon synchronizes with the body, it's more likely to get affected."

"What's with all that gear?" Allen asks nervously.

"Hm? To repair your arm with." Komui answers. "It's a little shocking, actually. If you don't want to experience trauma, you better not look."

"Wa-wait…" Allen stammers in fear but Komui didn't listen and Alice looks away.

"GO~!" Komui cheers happily and starts repairing Allen's arm.

"GYA—~~!" Allen screams bloody murder and then faints from the trauma as Komui repairs Cross.

"Komui nii-san. After this, you're going to that place, right?" Lenalee asks. "To check if Allen and Alice are human or not? Just in case…"

"Hm? Nah, it's okay, they're human." Komui replies stopping the treatment.

"How do you know?"

"In this world, the only organisms that get cursed are humans."

After Allen's arm is treated, Komui leads to an elevated platform with him on the control and the platform is lower As for Allen, he is on his knees from the trauma with left arm is in a sling and Alice stands next to him with her bracelet back.

"Your arm won't move because of the anesthesia, but it's all fixed~" Komui tells Allen.

'I am never going to damage this arm again…' Allen thought pales from the treatment.

"Now, now." Komui says and looks at them. "There are some side effects, but parasitism type is rare. Your Anti-Akuma Weapon is one of the best at activating the power of 'Innocence'."

"Innocence?" Alice asks catching hers and Allen's attentions.

The elevated platform stops in front of five shadowed figure sitting on chairs. Allen feels better and stands up.

"You possess the Innocence of God." Great General A says.

"The power of all intellectual omnipotence." Great General B says.

"Yet again, I have gotten my hands on God." Great General C says.

"These are people of our Boss, the Commander-in-Chief." Komui then looks at Alice and Allen. "Now, show your value to these people."

Alice and Allen look at Komui with confusion. "…Huh?" Both of them say.

Suddenly, Allen and Alice are grabbing from behind and lift them in the air. Allen's left arm and Alice's bracelet are surrounded with white tendrils. They both look behind wide-eyes. They saw a white big creature. Its eyes are not visible, and the only parts of its face that are bare are her nose, lips and chin. It looks like a woman.

"WHAT…!?" Allen and Alice said as they see her.

"Ino…" It says. "… Ino… Innocence…"

The tendrils then start to touch Allen's arm and Alice bracelet. On Allen's face, his veins were popping out, while Alice is struggling to get the tendrils off her bracelet.

'WHAT IS THIS…? UHG… MY CROSS, ACTIVATE!' Allen thought, but nothing happened.

The tendrils then wraps around weapon making Allen and Alice vulnerable.

"Impossible. The anesthesia won't wear off until tomorrow. Your arm won't move." Komui tells Allen.

"KOMUI…!" Allen calls. "UHG…!" He groans.

Komui has a smile on his face. "Your Cross is really beautiful, Allen~" He then turns to Alice. "Alice, your Silver is very pretty~"

"Komui… what…" Alice mumbles but trails off.

"How is it, Hevlaska?" Komui asks. 'Hevlaska' leans closer to Allen and Alice. "How are these Apostle of God?" Komui asks Helvaska. "Do they satisfy your needs?"

"URGG…"Allen groans.

'IT FEELS TERRIBLE… WHAT IS THIS!? IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH IT'S SEARCHING INSIDE MY BODY…! MOVE!' Allen thought and remembers what Komui said about the anesthesia.

'What is he trying to do!?' Alice thought.

'HMPH, ANESTHESIA… MOVE! COME ON, ACTIVATE!' Allen thought when his face is fully cover in veins. "DAMN IT, MOVE!" Allen orders and his hand then glows and Cross activates, but its form was weird. Allen's and Alice look at Cross in horror. "UHG… AH—!"

"Ama… amazing. He overcame the anesthesia!" Helvaska exclaims.

"GAH!"

"You… your nerves are paralyzed. Don-don't try to push yourself into activating it." Helvaska's forehead glows and a Ross Cross appear. "Calm down… I am not your… enemy." Allen hears this and breathes hard as Helvaska put her forehead against his. "Activating… your Anti-Akuma Weapon… is very dangerous when you're no fully synchronized." She tells Allen. "… 2%… 16%… 30… 41… 58… 78… 83%!" After analyzing Allen's Innocence his arm returns to normal. "You're all right now… it looks like 83% is our maximum synchronization with your weapon." Helvaska then face Alice and place her forehead against Alice's. "… 2%… 16%… 30… 41… 58… 68… 80%!" Helvaska says. "80% is your maximum synchronization with your weapon."

Alice looks up at Helvaska and asks, "Synchronization rate?"

"It's the life line for the Anti-Akuma Weapon activation. The lower the synchronization percentage, the harder it is to activate, and the user may become endangered." Helvaska explains. "I didn't mean to scare the two of you." She lowers Alice and Allen back on the platform. "I was just… trying to get to know your Innocence." Alice and Allen look at her confuse.

"Get to know our Innocence…?" Alice repeats.

"Allen Walker… Sometime in the black future, your Innocence will create an extraordinary 'Destroyer of Time'. Alice Lakefield… one day you will return to your hometown and fulfill your role as the Priestess of Water. That is what I felt… that is my power." Helvaska says.

"Des… troyer?" Allen repeats.

'Priestess…?' Alice thought but hearing that word causing her to remember something.

"How amazing~~~" Komui says and applauds as Allen and Alice look at Komui. "That's probably true~! Helvaska's fortune-telling is correct most of the time. Heheheh, we can count on you, Allen, Alice!"

"Komui…" Allen calls, then makes a fist and aims it at Komui. The Supervisor blocks it with his clipboard which Allen's fist bents it. "Can I hit you once, please?"

"How, mean~ you already punched~" Komui says playfully. "Sorry, sorry. You were surprised, eh? You were scared, I know, I know~~ Exorcist who must join must be examined by Hevlaska. Those are the rules." He explains.

"PLEASE MENTION THOSE KINDS OF THINGS BEFOREHAND!" Allen and Alice shout.

"What is 'Innocence' anyways?" Alice asks after calming down.

"I'll explain." Komui leans on the rails. "Because Innocence is something you Exorcist need to know all about. This story is only known to the Black Order and the Vatican. And also, the Millennium Earl." Komui starts to explain. "It all started about a hundred years ago, with the discovery of a certain Cube."


"To our descendants, we stand victorious over the darkness, even as we are destroyed. To save you from the misfortune which will, no doubt, befall you, we leave this message."


"What it contained was a prediction from ancient times and the method by which we could use a certain substance." Komui explains.

"A certain substance?" Allen asks.

"The cube itself was a substance, but-" Komui trails off. "It was called 'God's Crystal', which possesses a special power. We call it 'Innocence'." Komui looks at Allen's left arm and Alice's bracelet. "Allen, it's the cross on your left hand. Alice, yours is your bracelet." Allen and Alice are wide-eye. "Anti-Akuma Weapon processes the Innocence and turns it into weaponry." He adds. "The maker of the cube is known to have used this Innocence. Facing off against evil, they fought the Millennium Earl and won."

'The Earl…!' Allen thought.

"But in the end, the World was destroyed. It happened about 7000 years ago, and in the Old Testament, it was referring to as 'Noah's Great Flood'. However, the Cube tells us that those were the 'Three Days of Darkness'." Komui said. "And according to the cube's prediction, the world is bound to meet its end at the hands of the Earl."

"So far, the cube's prophecy is correct. The Earl has return to this world." Komui declares. "Due to the cube's prophecy coming true, the Vatican decided to follow the cube's message. This is the revival of the Innocence and the Black Order."


"Gather the Apostles! One Innocence brings forth one Apostle. An Apostle is a 'compatible person'. Without an Innocence-compatible person, the power cannot be used."


"The Innocence-compatible people... are you Exorcists." Komui tells Allen and Alice. "But the Earl hasn't forgotten the past either. He has created armies to destroy God. Those are the Akuma." Komui notes. "If Innocence is the white, then 'Dark Matter' is the black. The more it evolves, the more it develops. The Earl wants to destroy the Innocence and stop the revival of it. Innocence has spread throughout the world, because of Noah's Great Flood. There are 109 units in all. We are to wake up the people who contain Innocence, and gather up an army to counter the Earl's army. The Earl is on the move to find people with Innocence and destroy them. It's a race to obtain the Innocence." Komui explains.

"If we lose the race, the end will be just as the prophecy foretold." Great General A says.

"Fight! Great General B says. "That is your duty as on who has been chosen by the Innocence."

"It is your duty!" Great General C says. Komui walks over to Allen and Alice. He holds out his hand.

"Well then, that's about it for the long explanation." Komui says. "Let's fight together, to save the world. You won't make a single dollar though." Komui winks. Alice and Allen sigh.

"…Sure." Allen and Alice agree.

Allen held out to shake Komui's. Alice held out her hand and Komui shakes it.

"Welcome to the Black Order." Komui greets.

Komui then walks over to the digital map and points at Europe.

"Right now, with the two of you in our group, we have 20 Exorcist. Most are around the world working on different missions, but you'll soon be able to meet them all." Komui says. "By the way, Hevlaska's is an Exorcist too." He adds.

"What!?" Allen and Alice said and look at Hevlaska.

"I am a different… type than you guys, but I am a compatible person with the cube… ever since the teaching started, I have been a Keeper of Innocence." Hevlaska says. "I have… met with many Exorcists… May God be with you. Allen. Alice." She adds.

~Later~
In Allen's room

Allen sits on the floor, leaning on the bed side.

"Whew." Allen says relief. "Where did Timcanpy go…?" He wonders.

He looks back and saw his poster. The poster was an Akuma carrying a coffin, but its wrist is chained.

"Finally… I have come here, Mana." Allen says.

He then turns around so that his head is on the bed.

"Finally, I'm at the starting line." Allen then goes onto the bed and reaches towards the poster. "'Never stop walking,'" Allen recited. "Keep moving forward.'"

"I don't care about fate. I chosen this path myself." Allen thought.

"I promise… whatever the cost, I won't stop walking. I will keep walking until I die." Allen says.

In Alice's room

Alice closes the door behind her and lies on the bed. She stares at the ceiling and then she rolls on one side. She closes her eye and sees the same girl in her dreams.