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| Chapter Four | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forgotten pawn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In another part of the city, an automated car assembly plant was still functioning despite the heavy damage to the outer walls. Several plant workers were overseeing the progress of each of the cars that were coming off the line. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When I heard there was going to be another game, I was worried that we were going to lose a week's work. I'm glad that wasn't the case." One of the workers stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Speak for yourself. If things get messy - we will be in the middle..." One of the others pointed out. It was then that Raymond, Chris and Bill hurried in through one of the side doors. Almost every worker stopped what he was doing. All of them realized that if three pawns were here - other people were going to arrive soon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Everybody, scatter! We don't have much time." The foreman called out. Every worker hurried away as the three looked on. Chris shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can't say I blame them. What is our next move? That white bitch can't be far behind - and she will know exactly where we are." Chris asked calmly. Raymond looked around. All of the equipment was still running. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've been watching how their weapons work. The power pieces can't move a great distance and attack unless the target is in the line of fire - sort of like they don't have enough power to do both." Raymond said to himself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What of it? You speak as though you know how chess works so why would that big discovery surprise you?" Chris asked impatiently. Raymond snapped out of his self-induced trance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" Raymond asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are we doing here? This place is too closed in. The white inner circle will destroy us in here." Chris stated. Raymond was now paying more attention to a large crane that was hoisting a fully assembled car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are seriously pissing me off!" Chris warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I respect that you have been involved in this sort of chaos before - really, I do. But here's the way it is - I intend to get out of this alive! So spare me your posturing and such and let me think. Otherwise your king will sacrifice you just as he did that idiot John. If you want to go off on your own - go ahead, otherwise shut up!" Raymond retorted. Chris took a deep breath and stepped back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've seen your kind before - the kind that thinks they can out maneuver everything around them. If you are on some fool's quest to get yourself killed - you can do it without me. Bill, if you are smart you will do the same. Nothing is going survive where he walks." Chris warned. Bill looked at the two that were glaring at each other. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think we are forgetting that the enemy is out there and is not in here." Bill said rationally. Chris shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was in a game four months ago. My only brother was on the team - so was my former best friend. You see, my friend fancied himself a Grandmaster - much like our eager friend here. My brother listened to him. I had to watch as that pig of a man sacrificed my brother so that he could kill the queen. And now, as I stand and breathe, I see that same calculating look in your eyes." Chris said coldly. Raymond didn't reply. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What happened to the friend?" Bill asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I watched as it was shot to death by a bishop. I killed the bishop with my bare hands. I took the card that belonged to my brother and left the rest. So I want you to know this Raymond, I will be watching you. If I see you sacrifice a friend - no power on earth will save you from me." Chris warned. Once again he looked over at Bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm leaving. Are you staying with him or leaving with me?" he asked. Bill looked from one person to the other. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't bother deciding. Go with him. If he's so sure he can keep you alive, I wash my hands clean of it." Raymond said coldly. The two watched as Raymond hurried into the plant and vanished amidst the moving metal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Was all of that necessary?" Bill asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He has the attitude of one of those inner circle bastards. He's more dangerous than those insane lunatics who are trying to deliberately kill us. Just trust me on this one. You'll be safer away from that schemer." Chris reassured. The two left the factory. No sooner did the two step outside than a man on a black motor cycle drove by and stopped before them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You pawns have gotten further than expected." He said calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You almost sound disappointed Michael. So why are you here?" Chris asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We heard that the white queen is approaching on this area and our king is setting a trap for her highness. Since you two - wait a minute - the report said that there were three pawns on this site. Where's that new guy?" Michael asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have no idea, and I don't care. The punk is a wanna be Grandmaster. The fool will get us killed." Chris stated in disgust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is King's Bishop reporting." Michael stated into a radio. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Black King here. What is it?" Edward replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The new pawn has gone into hiding. It seems as though he is trying to play the game at our level. Do you want me to track him down and put him in his place?" Michael asked curiously. There was a moment of silence before the king responded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No. The white queen is in the area. She is our first priority. Once she is dealt with - then find that wretched pawn! Black King out!" Edward replied. Michael shook his head and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then the plan doesn't really change then. As I was saying before, since you pawns are here - you two will be the bait. The queen will move in to kill you - and when she does..." he began. The safety on his rifle disengaged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "...that wretched bitch will be mine." He concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So remember to make yourselves nice and visible - if you don't, I'll kill both of you myself." The bishop warned. He sped away on his cycle. Just then, the cycle exploded. Michael was thrown from his vehicle and landed several meters away from the two pawns. All color drained from Chris and Bill's faces when they saw the white queen drive through the fiery remains of the bishop's cycle. The white queen dismounted her cycle and walked over to where the bleeding bishop was. She laughed at how he was reaching for his rifle that was just out of reach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I heard what you were telling your boys..." she began. Her rifle fired five times into Michael's chest. She then reached down and pulled out the bishop's access card and looked over at the two pawns. She smiled evilly, for she recognized the two pawns. They were two of the pawns she was chasing after | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I remember you two - you children got away from me last time." She said eagerly. Quickly, the white queen hopped back onto he cycle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Quickly! Get back into the factory!" Chris warned. The two ran towards the large building. The two could hear the white queen's cycle scream out as she raced towards them. The two dived away from each other just in time to avoid being run over. They watched as she came to a complete halt at the factory's entrance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope you two weren't hoping to hide in there - oh my, my rifle has recharged. Who shall it be?" she said as a sinister smile crossed her face. She pointed her rifle at Bill then Chris - Bill then Chris. The white queen then fired at Bill. Chris watched as the person he hoped to save fell dead to the ground a few feet from him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Be a sweetie and get his card for me. If you do, I'll give you a ten second head start." She offered. Chris could feel his hands shake with rage. Reluctantly he took the card out of Bill's pocket. He could hear the white queen snickering at the situation. He then walked towards the woman on the bike. Then, in a burst of fury, he jumped at her and knocked her off her bike. The gun fell from her hands as he raced into the factory. The white queen laughed and slowly got back up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You emotional fool! You should have killed me when you had the chance." She goaded. Her rifle finished recharging. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "White queen report!" a voice demanded. The white queen sighed and put her rife down and picked up her radio. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Janet here...why are you bothering me?" she asked unimpressed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Be on your guard. There are two pawns in that area." E. Sameul Thomas warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh my, two pawns...you just do your job and let me do mine. White queen out." Janet concluded. She put her radio on her cycle and picked up her rifle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you want to play hide and seek little pawn - okay, ready or not here I come." She said maniacally. Cautiously, she stalked into the loud factory. Amidst the moving machinery and bad lighting, finding anything easily would be next to impossible, but for the white queen it was a game she played many times before. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In one of the corners hidden by shadows, Raymond had heard all of what had transpired. He was disturbed that a person he was talking to minutes before was brutally murdered for sport, but now was not the time for emotion. Everything had to be done right - there could be no margin for error. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One of us will kill the white queen Chris - and most likely it will be me. He thought. Calmly, he activated the crane controls and moved one car over so that it was suspended in front of the light. Though the noises made hearing subtle noises difficult, Raymond heard the sound of someone running. By the sound of it, it was more like crashing into everything. Just then, he noticed Chris run by in the hall below him. Five laser blasts fired, all except one missed. Chris fell to the ground. He was not dead, but his chances for survival were slim, for standing a few feet away from him was the white queen. She stood calmly. There was no real need to hurry now - her prey was going no where! Chris managed to force himself to his feet. As he did, he noticed a silhouette of a person hiding in the shadows. It was Raymond. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I could get you killed - but you were right - the king set us up... Chris thought. It was then that he noticed the trap that Raymond had set. He allowed himself to laugh. Janet stepped back. The pawn was laughing? Before she could rationalize a reason Chris leaped at her. Though she was startled, she was quick enough to raise her rifle and fire. The shot killed the pawn, but he knocked her down and fell on top of her. It was then that she noticed the swaying car four meters over her head. Raymond pushed the button. The car dropped down and crushed the white queen from the hips down. She was in too much pain to scream. The shock of barely surviving this attack was all that was keeping her alive. Raymond slid down a ladder and walked towards the dying queen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hello Janet. How are you feeling?" he asked. Janet looked for her rifle and saw that it was just inches out of her reach. She watched as Raymond picked up the rifle and slung it over his shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "...won't help...not work for you..." she strained. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know. But it will soon enough. Could you be so kind as to take all of the access cards you have on you - including your own - and hand them over to me." He requested calmly. Janet was going to protest, but a spasm of pain stopped her. With a trembling hand she reached into her pocket and pulled out the cards she had and tossed them at his feet. Never in all his life did Raymond see a look of such hate in a woman's eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It must be very painful being under that car like that. I would wager that it could take you a day - maybe two to die. Imagine, two days waiting to die..." he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get - to - point!" she blurted out. Raymond leaned forward and smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want to get to the White Citadel, help me and I will help you." He offered. She wanted to spit on the asshole. But all she could do was whimper as another spasm of pain waved over her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "...com-computer has map...take - it!" she begged. Raymond took the hand-sized computer from her shoulder pouch. The design was similar to the one he had, but this one showed the way to the White Citadel. It showed symbols of all the pieces that were still on the board, unlike his which just showed the board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This seems to work for me even though it belongs to her. I guess that the king was not totally honest with me - what a surprise. He thought. It was then that he noticed the symbol of the white queen was flickering. Raymond smiled and began to walk away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "WAIT! You - promised...help me! Please!" she begged. Raymond stopped and looked over at the slowly dying predator. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will help you as much as you helped Bill and Chris. Have a nice day Janet." Raymond replied coldly. Without even looking back, Raymond walked away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mere moments later, he was out of the factory. It was then that he noticed on the white queen's computer, a white pawn icon moving onto the square he was on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It looks like I'm not done here yet." He said to himself. He put the computers away and placed the access cards into a secure pocket. No sooner than he had than a man in white armor stepped over a hill and saw him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So you are the pawn who took out the queen." He said calmly. Raymond looked over at the person and smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must be the next fool who wants to die. Go away, my quarrel is not with you - yet." Raymond warned. The white pawn laughed at the insinuated threat. Without any fear, the white pawn walked towards Raymond. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think you are remotely aware of just how valuable you have become. Allow me to be the first one to show you." In a blur of motion, the pawn attacked Raymond with a full barrage of masterfully executed punches and kicks. However, much to the attacker's surprise, the black pawn was able to dodge and block well over half of the attacks. It was then that the white pawn leaped back and stood defensively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are very good - black belt right? Judo?" he asked. Raymond nodded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am a black belt in Karate. This could prove to be a very interesting match indeed. By the way, my name is George. What is your name?" the white pawn asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Raymond. And can we speed this up a bit? I'm in a bit of a hurry to get to the White Citadel and this needless chatter is slowing me down." Raymond retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I like a man with ambition. Let us finish this farce." He retorted. The two ferociously attacked each other. The skill and precision displayed by the two combatants was beyond description. In the end, George was off by one move. Raymond threw a savage punch that broke the white pawn's neck. Raymond watched as the man he was fighting fell lifelessly to the ground. Instinctively he reached down and grabbed George's access card. Raymond took a moment to look around. He saw several leaking oil drums by the factory. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I might as well give these people something to do before they get here." He muttered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He pulled out one and lit it with a match. Then he tossed the cigarette at the oil drum. He turned his back and began to walk away. At first nothing seemed to happen, but seconds later, one of the pools of oil caught fire. The tiny flames danced from the tiny pools to the drums - then the outer wall of the factory exploded. Raymond smiled, but did not look back. He had more important things to worry about than a factory campfire. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||