Disclaimer: I do not own Lost or any of It's characters all the events I write are purely fictional and are not to be confused with the actual Lost timeline.
The light had faded to a very dull light in the last hour and the strain on vision was almost unbearable, Ben knew he should have refilled the lantern a month ago but never got around to it. This was becoming a very long night especially with nothing to do but endlessly wait his turn while Jacob was deciding on his next move. The chessboard was ancient, there was once finely engraved detail on each piece and now with all that detail worn away from constant use they all looked almost identical, except in height and for some in width. Jacob had summoned him hours ago and while Ben was opening the door Jacob instantly made his first move then spoke the only word between them so far "sit". The game had remained intense all through the night, Jacob would move in for an attack and Ben would guard. At one point Ben had snatched a rook at the cost of two pawns, Ben was pleased and Jacob was still on guard for any other sudden assault. That was an hour ago and since that point they had taken a total of three moves between them, both refused to lose. Jacob made his move and put Ben's queen in a dangerous postion, it was Ben's turn to think things over now.
"You have to let her go" Jacob stated simply.
"Who"? Ben asked still analyzing the board.
"Juliet, of course, you and I both know why you keep her here" Jacob answered.
"What is keeping her here doing to you"? Ben asked in defense, he moved his queen back out of harms way once he was sure everything else was safe.
"It isn't so much what it's doing to me as it is what it's doing to you" Jacob commented as if the answer was as simple as one digit addition. Jacob looked the board over and offhandedly moved a pawn.
"If anything this whole situation is just a push to make me think on a new level and overall differently from how I normally think, are you just afraid of change Jacob"? Ben asked maliciously, at one time he would have never dared speak to Jacob in such a tone but that ship had sailed. He moved his Knight in a position where it could easily take Jacob's queen.
"Not all change is good Benjamin and it isn't chage I fear, it's you, or more specifically what will happen if you fail, Checkmate". Jacob slid his bishop on a long black diagonal line to meet Ben's trapped king, to Ben this simple movement took an eternity. Dealing with certain defeat was something Ben wasn't used to or something he ever wanted to grow accustomed to. Finally the bishop came to a stop in front of the black king and Jacob balled his hand into a fist except his index finger and thumb. He gave the once greatly detailed king a sharp flick and it hit Ben in the chest then fell to his lap, Ben didn't even blink.
"Widmore was never meant to be leader and can never be leader, but Ben, if you keep thinking about such Pitiful, Little things like your miserable failure of a relationship with your Daughter and some widow he will be leader and you will be held solely responsible."
"I won't fail" Ben answered in a shakingly calm voice, his face was on fire from rage and humiliation, how did he overlook the bishop?
"Your smart Ben, smart enough to keep everything together in an emergency but the problem is that good command actions are sometimes overridden by bad emotional responses".
"I'm not that careless and I can always fix things, even if something bad did happen" Ben snarled through a clenched jaw "Just like I always have".
"Ben I don't think you understand that Checkmate means GameOver".
The light flickered out and Jacob was gone with it, Ben was left alone with only his thoughts and the bitter feeling of failure. How did he overlook something so plain in sight?