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| Chapter Six | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Check | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Raymond had seen many astonishing things during his abduction into this psychotic subculture, but the site before him amazed him. It was a large, well-maintained castle. His first belief was that he had escaped the madness of the game, but after checking the computer map in his hand he realized that he had a long way to go before he would be free. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A place that isn't destroyed or in ruins..." Raymond muttered. Carefully he walked towards the large doors. Once there he saw a large bronze plaque. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tempest Industries International - founded in - 1503?" he read. A puzzled look crossed his face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This - game of theirs - couldn't have been going on since then. There is no way it could have been kept secret for over four hundred years." He stated in disbelief. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Actually, you would be surprised." A voice said calmly. Raymond quickly turned around. A few feet behind him he saw another black pawn. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You scared me half to death! What do you want Kevin?" Raymond demanded. Kevin laughed quietly and walked towards him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Be thankful that I wasn't on the other side." He replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would have known if you were. Now why are you here? Or did the king send you?" Raymond asked sarcastically. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "In a manner of speaking, you could say the king sent me. I heard you outlived a lot of other players - when one of them is the white queen, people get curious. No disrespect intended Raymond, but when a Rank Eight Pawn survives where eight others have fallen, the eight are either careless or the one is very lucky." Kevin stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Maybe it was both?" Raymond retorted. Kevin shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I doubt that very much. If anything, you strike me as a grandmaster player at some level." Kevin replied. Raymond rolled his eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You sound like Chris. He was spouting similar gibberish. I have no hidden agenda. I just want to get out - plain and simple." Raymond retorted seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That was what I wanted at first. But this game changes you. If you survive - you can barely recognize your own reflection. But, that's life I guess. By the way, how is Chris?" Kevin asked. Raymond sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's dead. He was killed by the white queen." He replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't suppose you collected the access cards from them?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't have time. The factory exploded minutes after the white queen died. Besides, if I had any of those cards - I would be hunted as though I were a king." Raymond rationalized. The logic made a certain amount of sense so Kevin let the issue drop. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It's a pity though. The white queen's card would be worth half a million dollars. I suppose I can go back later and try to find it." Kevin looked at the castle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Has this game been going on that long?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That's what we've been told. Tempest has a dozen or so ?invisible' cites all over the world. They rake in obscene amounts of money and are the picture perfect model of paradise." Kevin stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You mean there are other cities like this?" Raymond asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes. I've played in three of the Tempest cities. Unionsburge is nice, but you should see Paladyne. It's the Tempest City in the Brumuda Triangle." Kevin stated. Raymond could not believe he was hearing this. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Brumuda Triangle? There isn't anything there." He replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There are four tropical islands there. All are owned and kept secret by Tempest Industries. Before you are so quick to deny it - look around you. From what you have seen so far can you really say that it isn't possible?" Kevin asked seriously. Raymond knew he had a point. Even still, it was a lot to take in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The number of people that must keep this quiet must be huge." Raymond muttered to himself. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "From what I hear, six people run Tempest now. I don't know who they are - and I don't want to. That kind of knowledge could shorten a life span if you catch my meaning. But you would be surprised at what they can keep hidden - even in this day and age." Kevin continued. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How did you learn all of this?" Raymond asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm just a pawn - I'm harmless so people tell me things." He answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is that why you are telling me this?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will either be the deciding factor in how this game ends - or you will be dead. Either way, I have nothing to lose by talking to you." Kevin stated rationally. Raymond had to laugh. The fact that he was abducted was outlandish. The possibility of there being other cities like this was astronomical. The thought that there was conspiracy on top of conspiracy at a global level keeping this madness hidden was just too much. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is so funny?" Kevin asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing - everything. I just want to get out of here and back into the real world." Raymond replied seriously. The two began to walk away from the castle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let's just keep focused on the task at hand. You surviving the lunatics who are trying to get us killed." Kevin reminded. Minutes later, Kevin pointed out a devastated tower. By the look of it, the tower was going to collapse at any minute. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That's Tempest Tower. It has been standing for over one hundred years. It looks like it will crumble, but it will outlast us all. It makes a great place to lay low or evade attacks. It saved my life on numerous occasions." Kevin confessed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hard to believe." Raymond stated. His eyes widened. Kevin noticed them too. By the base of the tower were three of the white pawns - and they were walking towards them. If it was just them, there wasn't going to be a problem - if the pawns were being used as bait - it could lead to disaster. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Keep your cool. They might be bait. Let them come to us." Kevin instructed. Raymond himself had already assessed that in his mind as soon as he saw them, but he chose to remain quiet. Within moments, the three soldiers dressed in white armor were standing a few feet away from them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, well, if it isn't the odd couple. Mr. Hide and Seek and the Survivor." The biggest soldier goaded. Kevin seemed unimpressed by the bravado. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And you are what? The Three Stooges?" Kevin retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are staring to grow some backbone - how cute. We heard that your new boy aced our queen. But don't worry about us. We just aced one of your bishops and the pawn who was foolish enough to try to save him." The leader stated. Casually he held up the two access cards to back up his claim. Raymond shook his head in disbelief. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are these freaks for real? What are they trying to do? Bore us to death?" Raymond asked sarcastically. The tone surprised the three white pawns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are pretty mouthy for a new guy. Especially for someone with a million dollar bounty on his head." The leader stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Should we be telling him that Stewart?" one of the other pawns asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why not Carl? If we kill him, we get the reward. If by some chance he tries to run, we will transmit the news of the bounty to his king. Then he will have both sides hunting him." Stewart justified. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A million? Why in the name of god would your king put a bounty out on a pawn?" Kevin asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For some reason the king is worried that the punk is a grandmaster. After all, he was responsible for the death of the queen." The other pawn replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No need to tell them the whole story Jones. I am sure they have heard enough." Stewart stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How many can you handle?" Kevin quietly asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Keep the big baboon off my back and I can take care of his friends." Raymond whispered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That sounds fair..." Kevin retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you want the two?" Raymond asked seriously. Kevin looked at the three for a moment and sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't want any of them. But I will do what I can to keep him away." Kevin stated. In a quick action he kicked Stewart between the legs and ran for the tower. Stewart staggered from the kick but chased after him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Boss?" Jones called out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Kill the bastard! I'll take care of the coward!" Stewart called out. The two pawns looked over at Raymond who was standing calmly before the two. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Out of fairness, I will offer you both a chance to surrender." Raymond stated calmly. Both of the white pawns were stunned by the request. Before they could react, Raymond leaped at them and flipped one of them four feet away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shit! He's fast!" Carl stated. He slowly got up and rubbed his stinging shoulder. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment." Raymond said calmly. The two white pawns regrouped a few paces away from him. Then seconds later, the two rushed him. He held them off for a few minutes, but three minutes later he found himself pinned down by one of the pawns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The little bastard fights pretty good - it's almost a shame we have to kill him." Carl said between breaths. Jones looked around for something to finish off the black pawn. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Urgh...hurry up! This one is hard to keep down!" Carl strained. Just then, Carl heard a distinctive thud noise. As Carl looked over his shoulder he saw Kevin with an arm-sized piece of wood in his hands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Say good night." Kevin taunted. He hit Carl across the face so hard that it broke Carl's neck. The body fell limply on top of Raymond. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You sure took your sweet time." Raymond muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The big thug slowed me down. Are you okay?" Kevin asked. Raymond pushed the dead body off of him and slowly got up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've been better, but I'll live." Raymond slowly got up. Kevin collected the cards from the four cards from the two pawns and placed all of the newly acquired cards into a secure pocket. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We had better get out of here. The white king had to have broadcasted the price on your head by now. If we stay here, both sides will hunt us." Kevin warned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why us?" Raymond asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because I am helping you out. Now no more talk! We have to get to a more secluded place!" Kevin warned. The two ran into the forest north of them and vanished into the shadows of the trees. Mere seconds later, a man drove up in a vehicle belonging to a rook. He got out and saw the two dead pawns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They were here...and by the look of these bodies, they just left. He thought. Cautiously, he went back to his vehicle and grabbed his radio. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is Mark Lords. The pawns couldn't delay them long enough. By the looks of things I just missed them. They are probably minutes from this location." He reported. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then why aren't you following them?" a voice asked sharply. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Their trail leads into dense forest. I would have to follow on foot. I would lose my edge. I've checked the map sire. The two are making a direct run for the citadel. I will circle around the forest and cut them off." He stated calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Make it so. Be sure that you waste no time! White king out!" the voice concluded. Mark put the radio away and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That boy has the boss spooked. I wonder why." Mark muttered to himself. He hopped into his vehicle and raced alongside of the forest. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||