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| Chapter Seven | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Breakaway | ||||||||||||||||||||
| After running for what felt like hours through a dense acre of forest, Raymond and Kevin finally reached the other side. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - was hideous. I do not want to run like that ever again." Kevin said coldly. Raymond took out the queen's computer map and noticed something disturbing. In the time that it took them to get where they were, a white rook icon had moved into a position to stop them. What puzzled him was how the rook icon was not advancing on them - it just waited. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey, yours shows icons. How did you do that?" Kevin asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I haven't a clue. According to this, that rook was near where that last fight took place. It moved twice and now has that row it its sights - he knows where we are going and is waiting for us." Raymond replied. He sat down at the base of a tree to catch his breath and think. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you think they are trying to box us in?" Kevin asked. Raymond studied the location of each piece. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think so. Having the rook there is a defensive move. He's worried about us reaching the White Citadel, but he doesn't want to commit to chasing us down." Raymond replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why does this sound like a messy situation?" Kevin asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "He has to trying to compensate for the loss of his queen - if I had more time..." he muttered to himself. He slowly got up and put the map away. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "So what is the big plan?" Kevin asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "We can't go back...we have to risk the rook. From what I saw on the map, it said that the area we are heading towards is a construction yard. Lots of big machines to offer cover from gun-like weapons and vehicles." Raymond stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you really think that will work?" Kevin asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you have a better idea?" he responded. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "No..." Kevin replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then it is the only plan we have. Come on. The longer we wait, the sooner the white king can send more pieces to reinforce the rook." Raymond stated seriously. The two hurried up the large hill in front of them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| At the spot where the white rook was waiting, Mark was watching the hills through a pair of binoculars. It was something that was starting to bore him as it was nearing the second hour of waiting. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Even if they were crawling on their faces they would have made it here by now. So what is taking them so long?" he muttered impatiently. He put down the binoculars and picked up his computer map. On it he saw the two black pawns finally making their way towards his line. Mark allowed himself to laugh. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is about time. I was beginning to wonder if they got turned around in the forest. According to this, they should be getting over that hill in a matter of minutes." Mark said gleefully. He quickly leaped into his vehicle and readied all of his weapons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| On the other side of the hill, the two took a break near the top. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "We only get one chance at this. If we do not make it into the construction yard, the rook will kill us." Raymond said seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "How far do we have to go?" Kevin asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Under eight hundred meters if my count is correct - give or take. Are you ready?" Raymond asked. Kevin sighed and then nodded. The two leaped over the top of the hill and began to run. As they did, they both could hear the sound of the rook's vehicle charging towards them. For a few fleeting seconds, Raymond believed the two were going to make it - but Kevin tripped and fell. A part of Raymond wanted to stop and help him - but another part knew it was too late. He kept running and made it into the construction yard. A distinguishable squishing sound told him that Kevin didn't make it. Seconds later, the engine on the vehicle shut off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You impress me Raymond. I have never seen a pawn go as far as you have. A pity it has to end here." Mark called out. Raymond silently moved through the maze of heavy machinery. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think you are remotely aware of just how much chaos you have put into this game. Few pawns have merited as much attention as you have. I mean, both sides hunting down one pawn - it is almost unheard of." Mark continued. Just then Raymond turned around one corner and was face to face with Mark. Mark smiled as he pointed his machine gun at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "At last we meet. Just so you know, I am Mark, the white king's rook - a young man you are making very wealthy." Mark got ready to shoot. Before he could, a loud screaming engine distracted him. Both of them looked up and saw Tymonia on her cycle. She fired her rifle twelve times at the rook before her vehicle landed. Raymond watched as the black queen dismounted her bike and walked over to where the rook fell. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was listening to what the fool was rambling. Ignore it! You are near the White Citadel, go." She stated clearly. Raymond stood frozen for a moment. The black queen shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Look, we get no money if we lose. At this point in the game we need every man we can spare. So just worry about the white guys. Alright?" she asked calmly. Raymond was still suspicious, but he couldn't argue with her logic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "How close is the game?" Raymond asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Things are getting close - let's just leave it at that. We don't have the luxury of time, so please - on your way!" she ordered. Raymond hurried through the heavy machines until he was out of site. Tymonia sighed and walked over to her radio. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is the Black Queen - you were right on one count, he makes great bait - but you can't sacrifice him yet. If you do it could cost us the game, our profits and our lives. I believe he could tip the balance of power in our favor - especially if the white king is this worried about him." She rationalized. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is too crafty. He may prove an asset, but he may be a liability. We stick to the plan. Understand?" the voice ordered. The queen sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think it is a big mistake - but if that is what you want, so be it. Black queen out." She concluded. She hopped onto he cycle and spend away - weaving at dangerous speeds through the heavy machines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A short while away in the opposite direction, Raymond had stopped running. Even if the queen was telling him the truth, deviating from the plan was not an option. It was at this moment that a rogue thought entered his mind. In chess, a pawn could change at any square on the opposite end - why would it be different here? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Maybe it was a trick from the start - maybe I don't have to go to the White Citadel..." he muttered. It was a dangerous assumption. If by some rare chance he was told the truth, he would be setting himself up for a big fall - but on the other hand, if he was right, he was being set up from the start. Under the best of circumstances it was a hard situation to assess. And now, with the stakes as high as they were, it was doubly so. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can't afford to second guess my actions. I have to - " he began. Just then he heard the sound of fighting, and by the sound of it, the struggle was happening on the other side of the construction yard. Quietly, he stalked through the heavy machines. He then climbed up a crane. From there he could see the white king fighting off two black pawns. He watched as the king managed to kill the first pawn, but left himself open to the other. But before the pawn could hit the high profile enemy, the king's bishop shot down the pawn. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You cut that a little close didn't you!" the white king hissed. The bishop drove up and parked beside him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Come on, do you really think I would have let anything hit you? Be realistic. This game is about action - suspense..." the bishop began. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shut up! This game is about survival! We are far from being in a dominant position and we are far from winning this game. No unnecessary chances, understand!" the king ordered. Raymond then watched as the king whispered something to the bishop. The bishop laughed at what he heard and then sped away. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Whatever the king told him I doubt was humorous. I have to hurry. Raymond thought. He quickly descended the crane and hurried away from the area the king was in. Within moments he was out of the construction yard, but found himself face to face with another white pawn. In a normal game of chess, at most a pawn would encounter three pawns. The fact that he saw yet another pawn before him was not a pleasant thought. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You were lucky that you queen saved you - but she won't be able to save you now." The pawn goaded. Raymond sighed. He didn't know which was worse, the fact that he was trapped in this psychotic game - or the fact that he had to put up with all of these needless delays. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am in a hurry. Let me pass." Raymond warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think I am scared of you?" the pawn asked, shocked at the tone. Raymond shook his head. This punk was wasting his time. Calmly, Raymond walked towards the pawn. Then in an explosive action, he punched the pawn across the face with all his strength. For a few seconds the pawn stood there as though the hit didn't affect him. But then he fell backwards with a thud. Raymond walked over the unmoving pawn. Without even taking the white pawn's access card he just walked away. He remembered back to when his judo instructor taught him that punch - and warned him that it was very lethal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am starting to lose patients for this game." Raymond muttered to himself. He tossed the computer map he was given over his shoulder. He looked at the white queen's laser rifle that by some act of god was still in his possession. None of the buttons on it worked - but he expected that. He took out the computer map that the queen had. By his count, he was three rows away from his destination. Raymond allowed himself to smile. For the first time since all of this nonsense had begun, he had the advantage. Everyone would be expecting him to charge straight towards the White Citadel - which was exactly where he was going to avoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| To be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||