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| Chapter Nine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stalemate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was the middle of the night. The battle was nearing its inevitable end. The White king realized that things were going bad. He had lost both of his knights, the last of his pawns, and his last rook sacrificed himself so that he could escape the Black queen's attack. Plus there was the matter of the rogue pawn that was still floating around. He knew that the Black pawn was close to the White Citadel, but none of his alarms went off - so at least the pawn didn't make it there. But according to the statistics, the only players he had left in the game were his bishop and his last two pawns. His enemy had a queen and two pawns. It was a battle he had little hope in winning, but at this stage in the game, a stalemate was better than a defeat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Things have been going from bad to worse. Ever since that bitch went off on her own to hunt pawns - everything has been going wrong! He thought. He walked out from his hiding place to stretch out. According to the map, the Black pieces were getting ready to move against him. Even though the situation was bad, he still had a plan. It was risky, but he had little choice. He had to play on the Black king's hunger. He knew that once the enemy thought he had the advantage he would press it and press it until he won. Of all his strategies, it was the only one that he had left. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Once the queen is dealt with - my pawns will attain power and hunt that fool down like the mangy dog he is." He muttered to himself. He then heard a whistling noise. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder. There was the Black Queen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope you don't mean these pawns. I dealt with them when I chose to leave you alone!" she boasted. Proudly she held up the access cards of his two last pawns. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't feel too bad king! You will join them soon enough!" she yelled out. Her cycle screamed out as it raced down the hill towards him. The White King began to run then he dropped to the ground. Seconds later, the white bishop's cycle soared over the fallen king and shot at the surprised queen. The bishop skidded to a full stop a few meters from his king. The queen's vehicle exploded and sent her body a few meters away from him. The White King got up and smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get her card!" he ordered. The bishop walked over to the dead queen. But just as the White King predicted, the Black Pawn that was near the queen leaped out and shoved a primitive spear through the bishop's face. The King leaped forward and fired his pistol at the pawn. A wave of exhilaration flooded every cell of the White King's being. He had done it! The only pieces that were left were the other king and his pawn - a pawn that hadn't entered his citadel. All he had to do was get to the pawn before his enemy did. The king checked out the map and noticed that the pawn icon was moving slowly, square by square towards him. The enemy king was advancing from the other direction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "All I have to do is ice the pawn and I survive! The fool should have went to the Citadel to increase his rank like he was told." He muttered. The king hurried back towards his side of the battlefield. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But then again, lucky for me that he didn't. he thought to himself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Meanwhile, back where the Black King was, he too was hurrying towards the White King's side of the board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is an impossible situation...if I let that wretched pawn live...I win the game and can muscle any access cards he might have on him... if I let him die, the game is a draw and me and the opposing king split the profits." He muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is it worth the risk of letting that scheming pawn live?" he debated as he hurried towards the enemy king. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back where Raymond was, the Black Pawn looked at the map and notices the two kings rushing towards his position. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How quaint. Just the three of us left. God I hope I gambled right." He muttered to himself. Minutes later, the White King leaped over a hill and saw Raymond sitting on a rock patiently waiting for him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was wondering when you would show up. Lovely day isn't it?" Raymond asked politely. The king drew his sword and pistol. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have no idea how you've done what you have...but it ends here!" the White King stated. In a lightning quick motion Raymond leaped over and kicked the gun from his enemy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I agree. I commend you. You led my foolish king like a hound on a leash. He is a bit simple isn't he?" Raymond asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He may be simple - but you are the fool! You should have made a break for the Citadel when you had the chance!" the king stated. It was then that Raymond took out the laser rifle that he had taken from the White Queen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That won't do you any good! A pawn can't use a power weapon." The king stated. Raymond smiled and pulled out his access card and put it into the rifle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "In the game of chess, a pawn doesn't have to get to the king's square - he just has to get across." Raymond stated. The White King watched in horror as the laser rifle recharged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That isn't possible - no pawn has ever..." the king stuttered. Raymond smiled and aimed the rifle at the White King. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am wagering that no pawn has ever tried...by the way - Checkmate!" Raymond stated seriously. The rifle fired and blasted a pie-sized hole through the former White King's chest. He ran over and took out the White King's access card and added it to the others. Seconds later he saw the Black King running towards where he was. Calmly, Raymond walked back over to his rock and waited for the only other surviving player. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You...you actually killed him?" the Black King asked in mild disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It would seem that way wouldn't it?" Raymond stated emotionlessly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then we won!" The Black King said happily. Raymond seemed less enthused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Big deal. We still have some unfinished business - you and I." Raymond stated seriously. A greedy look crossed the Black King's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am so glad you brought that up. Give me all of your access cards now or die!" he ordered. Raymond laughed at the threat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You dare laugh at me pawn!?" he demanded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Check your computer - boss - you'll see a little surprise." Raymond instructed. When the king looked at the computer map, he saw Raymond's icon transform from a pawn into a queen. A cold chill ran down the king's spine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've had a lot of time to think since this chaos began. I got to think about how you tried to have me killed more than the opposing army. You are nothing but a paranoid, spineless jellyfish - allow me the honor of putting you out of your misery!" Raymond yelled. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a hundred spotlights flooded the area and temporarily blinded the two. When the light dimmed a bit, the two saw a large army with weapons aimed at them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You two could try to shoot each other - but I would seriously recommend against it." Marty warned. He and the others he was gambling with walked towards the two survivors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Who the hell are you?" Raymond demanded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You might say that I am the host of this little gathering. We will talk in a moment. Right now, I want to talk to the king. What the hell were you thinking? You are beyond lucky that any of your plans fell into place. You were so obsessed with him that you almost lost it on several occasions." Marty demanded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was doing my best..." he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bullshit! You were worried he might get some of the prize. You disappoint me. Quinton, be so kind as to make this greedy fool disappear." Marty requested. Quinton gestured to several soldiers who without saying a word dragged the former Black King away. Marty then smiled and walked over to were Raymond was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have done me proud. The way you played the players was amazing! You definitely have got what it takes." He said sincerely. Raymond looked at the man well-dressed man in mild confusion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you don't mind my asking, what are you talking about?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To be the king of course." Marty stated. Raymond shook his head and put down the rifle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No disrespect intended, but I have had enough of this...I just want to go home." Raymond said quietly. The ghosts of the people he knew on the team haunted his thoughts. The people with Marty whispered something to him. Marty seemed disappointed by what they said and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What if I offered you a split of the take? Jullien did that for me. For every ten billion I get, you get one - what do you say?" he offered. Raymond lowered his eyes and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can't do this again..." he replied. Marty shook his head and took out his checkbook and began to scribble on it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is a shame that you don't want to play anymore - can we interest you in living here or in any other Tempest City? The Palaces in Paladyn are really exquisite." He offered sincerely. From what he had heard from Kevin, that was the Tempest City hidden in the Brumuda Triangle. Raymond sighed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I just want to go back home." He requested. Marty sighed and handed him the check. Raymond looked at it in amazement. In his hands was a check for over ten million dollars. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is this for real?" he asked in disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes. On behalf of the Tempest Chess Club, congratulations. If you want, we will have a limousine drive you to wherever you want to go, and if the car can't reach there, we will charter a jet to take you there." Marty offered. Raymond's head was still spinning from the size of the check. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thank you...that would be appreciated." He muttered weakly. The others watched in amusement as the duchess led the survivor over to the car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is it wise to let him go?" Quinton asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He seems like a sensible person. Take the usual precautions." Marty retorted. They all watched as the limousine drove away | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Concluded... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||