Chapter 9

Wow… long time no see guys hehe. Real life problems such as summer homework (and a lot of it!), angry mothers, stupid brothers, and various mishaps kept me from this chapter. But finally, around 3 in the morning EST I finally got this done.

Be glad friends and enjoy a taste of awesomeness.

Percy subconsciously rubbed the area where his black eye once was. After the chipmunks had left he'd just focused his Talent to erase all traces of the black eye. Then he'd headed up to his personal quarters above the city. Essentially a pseudo penthouse, it was easily the fanciest and best looking place in the city. Everything was carefully miniaturized with each detail perfectly placed. He even had dozens of miniature video monitors and computers he tasked Sam with building at least a year ago. His own house was practically an advanced command and control center from where he could oversee the city and communicate with dozens of other small communities he'd built over the years. From Atlanta to Seattle, from his home here just outside of L.A. to New York City, hundreds of other chipmunks went about their lives in secrecy.

Few humans had discovered them. Those that did were contacts and informants, people Percy tolerated because they were of use to him.

Turning from these thoughts, he gave a bored glance at a monitor to the right. This one was of the garage a bit farther underground. The hydraulic lift was busy lifting the hastily repaired van up to ground level. Well I'm glad we finally got some use out of that stupid hydraulic piece of crap. Damn Sam and his useless gadgets. The chipmunk raged half-heartedly. Sam could get favors out of anyone. He often joked that Sam had discovered another one of his Talents. Percy often regretted the ego boost it gave Sam afterwards.

Soon enough the van was out of sight and Percy turned to another monitor. This one was… strange. His dad was leaning over a still unconscious Usiah.

Dr. Williams rushed into Usiah's room, having heard his patient cry for him from the next room. Vex was still unresponsive but Usiah apparently was. For the moment everything seemed normal, unchanged. Usiah was lying barely alive on the bed, the monitors showing the erratic behavior his body was in. Suddenly however, all of the numbers starting going up.

"Damnit! His blood pressure's skyrocketing and so is his heart rate. This is not good. Pupils dilating… what the hell is going on!" The doctor gave a frustrated grunt and moved to a nearby cabinet, instinct and years of experience pulling out exactly what he needed before he could even think about it.

He filled a single needle with a thick, metallic liquid. With the speed and skill of a truly great doctor he managed to restrain his now shaking patient and inject the needle into his arm. Usiah visibly relaxed and his vitals returned to normal. The unconscious chipmunk gave a few violent twitches in rapid succession. Then, his eyes opened.

"W-where am I? I can't see. WHERE AM I!" the confused chipmunk flailed around in panic. Dr. Williams reacted quickly and comforted his patient while restraining him from ripping out the IVs or knocking over the monitors. "Shh… its okay boy. You're here, in the clinic."

"Doc? Is it r-really you?"

"Yeah son, I'm here. Relax…" Dr. Williams tore a strip of gauze from a bundle nearby and pressed it lightly around his patient's needle wound. "We lost you, then found you again, and lost you for days. Do… you remember anything?"

Usiah weakly reached out for the doctor. His body was deteriorating at a rate the good doctor could barely keep up with. Dr. Williams pumped an array of chemicals into his truly dying patient with his needle, attempting to slow or stop the organs from shutting down. "Doc, its like I can barely hear you. I-I'm scared. Why can't I see anything."

His vitals were dropping, fast. "Hang on son, don't give up on me now." Nothing was working. The doctor refused to admit defeat. "Stay strong Usiah. You need to stay strong!"

"Doc. What's it like. Dying and all. I've never… died before." Usiah swallowed thickly. Fear was tearing him apart on the inside while his already fragile organs failed him. Already he could feel a weight pressing on him, driving him into the bed. His strength was leaving, his heartbeat slowing. Was death as painful as this? Would he simply stop existing? Would it be like a dream?

"Don't say that! Just keep your eyes on me, okay?" The younger chipmunk could barely hear the doctor. Darkness still consumed his vision, and his body slowly numbed itself to the world.

"Doc, just tell everyone… that I wished I was braver when I died."

"Your not going to-"

"Please?" Usiah felt so weak… so tired…

"I, uh… okay. Bless you son. Enjoy the afterlife."

But the chipmunk was already dead.

Percy shook his head at the events unfolding before his very eyes. He already knew that Usiah was to die this day. He'd seen it months before. Fate was fate, however.

Changing it solved nothing. He'd tried.

I know what happens when I try to defy fate, when anyone tries to defy fate. Their defiance is their very downfall. We all pay the price in blood, Usiah was no exception. He tried to console himself. Percy couldn't help but feel responsible. Nothing made it easy. Not the tenth time it happened. Not the hundredth time it happened. Not this time.

No… not this time.

But there was good news too. His chess game was heading for a stalemate. His hidden opponent had defeated him in every match they ever had. This time was different though. This game determined the fate of his entire people, of the glorious civilization yet to rise. Percy knew that if he lost then all of his efforts would fall. He himself would fall at the feet of those whose rage he'd incited.

This couldn't happen. It wouldn't happen. It shouldn't happen… The chipmunk thought nervously.

Percy's thoughts were interrupted when a certain someone came barging into the room. The chipmunk wore a blue denim vest and a prominent mhawk stood on his head. His eyes turned wide with surprise upon seeing the older chipmunk brooding near the monitors.

"Percy? Dude, is that you? Long time no see man! These are some sweet gigs. Mind if I-"

"Rick, get the fuck out." The omniscient chipmunk interrupted. Does that prick not know when he's not wanted?

"Cmon man! I come all the way over here from Detroit and this is how you treat me? What happened to us man?"

Percy pinched the bridge of his nose in anger and frustration. He had no time to deal with this today. "What the… Rick when I first saw you the first thing I told you to do was to go kill yourself. Does that register at all to you? I don't like you. Now would you kindly get the fuck out and leave me in peace?"

"Dude, you have to find where your soul is and just be there man. Go with the wind, find your flow, keep that rhythm man. Just go where your heart is. I found my heart here, chilling with a friend that doesn't seem to have any manners." Rick dragged several makeshift luggages into the penthouse. They were coated in dirt and grime, rubbing it off everywhere because of their owner's carelessness.

"Now lets catch up! Hey, is that chess? I play a mean game man. Let me at that." Rick bolted for the chess set currently in play. Percy's eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. The vest wearing chipmunk felt his legs turn to jelly. With great surprise etched on his face, Rick collapsed just short of the chess set.

"Don't touch that! I'm in a very important game."

Confusion flashed across Rick's face "With who? I don't see anyone 'round here besides me and you."

"My opponent seems to be able to remotely play his pieces. I haven't discovered how or why, but our games have taken on a role of increasing importance. Anyway, if you stop being an ass, I'll show you what's going on now."

With a nod, a snap, and a sigh of relief, Percy began explaining his current game. "The pieces that aren't pawns generally represent someone of importance around me." He pointed at the rook to the far right of the board hiding behind its pawn. "That one is Sam. You know, the nerdy one."

"Right, the dude who built me that miniature motorcycle and helped me jump-"

"Shut up. Now the next piece-" he gestured to the knight harassing a group of pawns and a bishop. . "-is Hex."

Confused, the blue-clad chipmunk asked "How do you know who is what piece?"

"Ah, that's just the thing. I don't find out until the piece becomes of importance. Though I do have a few guesses, and I'm usually not wrong. Generally the pieces are assigned to people according to their traits. Hex is a very aggressive, hands-on, and dominating type of person. Thus, she is naturally suited to the knight role. The rook is Sam because he prefers to shy away from problems until he has sufficient information to act with. Sam rarely does things on a whim. Because the rook is often not playable until late in the game, and must be carefully set up, he is naturally suited to the rook."

Rick nodded with understanding as his so called "friend" explained everything to him. "What happens when a piece gets taken?"

A grim expression flashed momentarily across Percy's visage. He turned away from the other chipmunk and looked to the other pieces already taken. He had five pawns but his opponent had taken one of his bishops. Usiah…

"Bad things happen Rick. Bad things…" The older chipmunk turned to face his companion with a dark look.

"Wait, do you really believe in this crap?" Rick asked rather unconvinced. To him, there was no way that a stupid chess game could do any creepy psycho mumbo jumbo. Not at all.

"No, not really. I was just calming you down so I could properly kick you out of my penthouse." With a snap, the filthy luggage was raised in the air along with their owner. Rick flailed about in a futile manner in an attempt to resist. He grabbed at anything and everything in sight but the force put forth by Percy's Talent proved to be too much. For all his effort, the rude chipmunk was tossed out the window and fell from the insane height along with all his things. It's a shame he wont die with his Talent and all…

Percy sighed and gave one last passing glance to his chess game. This game would not determine the future, but rather remind him of what already happened. He snapped his fingers and his other bishop moved into a fianchetto(1) by itself. He had to stall for time, to slow his opponent until the proper counter could be made.

He just needed a bit more time…

"Oh crap! Brace yourselves!" The Queen Victoria sped across the suburbs in a flash of unnecessary noise. With an exaggerated swing of his hands, Sam turned the vehicle to avoid an incautious squirrel that ran into the street chasing a nut. Rather surprisingly Sam had also managed to avoid stray cats, hydrants, and even a kindly old lady crossing the street to her grandson's house.

"I think I'm gonna barf." Alvin groaned out. He was turning a bit green around the edges. His brothers ran for cover, hoping to avoid the disgusting and vicious assault to come. "Ugh…"

Hex was bored out of her mind, despite the lurching of the car to and fro. Sam struggled to keep the vehicle on the road despite all his skill. His dozen close calls or so had already proven that. Sam momentarily entertained the idea of Hex using her Talent to screw up his driving, but such a thought almost proved too distracting when a light green home came into view. With a stomp of his foot, the brake was pressed down by an invisible force. The van slid slowly across the manicured lawn. Sam couldn't believe that only the front bumper was barely touching the front door of the house. It wasn't just anyone's house though. It was Claire's house.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how one doesn't crash into a house." Sam declared smugly to his passengers. The Chipettes had all but passed out from the shock. Brittany had tried to keep a tough façade but failed. The boys were bruised and battered, but okay for the most part. Hex was standing perfectly next to the driver seat's headrest. The oppressive chipette held a bit of distaste in her voice as she fired back against the techie.

"Shut it, Sam. That was only once."

"Wait, you've demolished a house with a car before?" Simon asked from his spot behind cover. The only cover available, however, was the unconscious bodies of the Chipettes.

"Yeah. I crashed this van into your house, like a while ago." She responded simply. Everyone present minus Sam stared at her open mouthed.

The door to the house opened, revealing a terrified Claire jumping back in surprise. The boys woke the Chipettes (Or rather, Alvin threatened to give Brittany a kiss while she was unconscious and she awoke to beat Alvin to a pulp when he approached her.) and rushed out the van with relief and happiness in their eyes. The Chipettes

"Claire!" The six called out. She found them climbing out of the windows and onto the windshield. Alvin leapt as soon as he could to give the woman a hug. She put all of them into a loving embrace, kissing their foreheads with tenderness and care. Her excitement was obvious by the way she spoke beyond understanding. Finally, Claire brought the six into the house to a sulking Dave. He was in front of a T.V. lifelessly staring at the screen.

Alvin's smug voice called out from behind him "Heya Dave, did you record that documentary about me like I asked?"

"Not now Alvin. I'm too depressed about… Alvin?" He turned slowly to see all six of the chipmunks in Claire's arms. Dave turned back to the T.V. and rubbed the exhaustion out of them. It couldn't be… could it? He slowly returned to see the six chipmunks now staring at him expectantly.

"Dave? Are ya losing your eyesight in your old age?"

"I can't believe it. Your really back, all of you! Thank God!" He rushed to the chipmunks and embraced them carefully, trying to avoid squeezing them to death. "I thought I'd never see you guys again. Don't leave me like that ever again. You don't know what I went through just-"

"Yeah, yeah Dave. Its great to see you too. Now where are those welcome back pancakes?" Alvin interrupted, scanning the room for food. As if on cue, all their bellies groaned in hunger.

"Alvin, its at least midnight. You can't possibly-"

"No no, its alright Simon. You guys deserve it after all you went through… after you explain why there's a van blocking my front door." Claire returned. Everyone looked at the van sitting in the front door immobile. For at least a minute, nothing happened. Then the sound of a whip cracked and the vehicle reversed violently, kicking dirt up everywhere. It soon sped off into the night.

"… What van?" Alvin asked sheepishly. The deadpan looks around the room told him exactly how funny his joke was.

End Chapter 9

Too late… too tired… must sleep.

Must do summer homework. Jesus I can't wait until I get the first act done. I can finally catch up on that stuff and get it done! This was the last real filler.

Usiah's death is extremely important. I also wanted to get that little chess piece in because it serves as an explanation for a lot in the story. No the chess game doesn't predict what happens or who dies. Seriously, that's just unoriginal. Though it does reveal the reason as to why some characters get nicknames based on chess pieces. Alvin is the knight, guess who's the bishop/rook.

Also, I needed the Chipmunks/Chipettes to return to Dave. It's key for the next chapter.

BIG NEWS Poll is done! The first character(s) to head up to the plate is (are)…. Eleanor and Theodore.

Thanks to all who voted. Your efforts decided this. Now +2 internetz to whoever can guess what power Theodore has. I gave a hint in a previous chapter. A real easy one.

(1) A fianchetto is a move that takes advantage of the bishop's movement to protect the center from enemy pieces while also leveraging a point of attack against major enemy pieces. This bareback one is just for the curious. If you want a better one, look it up.