Disclaimer: Okay, there's a chess tournament bit in here so if you find chess boring. . .well, stinks for you. I used the legendary "Shower of Gold Pieces" game (Stepan M. Levitsky Vs. Frank J. Marshall, German Open Championships Round #6, Breslau, Ger: 1912) for the match, with added moves in the end to finish the game (since it originally ended in a draw). Also, this is technically the end chapter to the first half of the sequel so be prepared for the coming chapter of the next big situation to hit the group! .
Chapter 21
"e2 to e4."
Studying the board carefully, Trowa took the pawn across from hers and said, "e7 to e6." The group watched in silent eagerness for the game to heat up.
"d2 to d4." Sara moved another pawn.
"d7 to d5." Trowa met her pawn head on.
"Nb1 to c3." She moved out her left knight and placed it in front of the pawn battalion.
"c7 to c5." He brought forward another pawn in line with the knight.
"Ng1 to f3." She brought out her second knight.
"Nb8 to c6." Trowa brought out his right knight and placed it behind the pawn.
"e4 takes d5." Sara's used her first pawn to take Trowa's adjacent pawn, placing it beside the board with a smile. The group grit their teeth anxiously.
Oh great, she's already in the lead! He's gotta be more careful! Wait. . .why am I getting into a chess game! Duo thought to himself, his eyes glued to the board. Unmoved by the loss, Trowa picked up his pawn adjacent to hers and said, "e6 takes d5." He placed it beside the board and Sara let out a quiet grunt, picking up her right bishop and saying, "Bf1 to e2."
"Ng8 to f6." Trowa moved out his left knight.
"0 to 0." Sara knighted her king by swapping places with the right rook.
"Bf8 to e7." Trowa moved his left bishop to sit beside the knight.
"Bc1 to g5." Sara's left bishop jumped across the board to rest next to Trowa's left knight.
"0 to 0." Trowa knighted his king.
"d4 takes c5." Sara took another of Trowa's pawns.
"Bc8 to e6." Trowa moved out his right bishop.
Come on, Trowa, you can do it. . .Rachel thought, seeing sweat slowly begin to run down his face.
He's feeling the strain, he won't make it. Chang observed negatively as his friend battled with their fates.
"Nf3 to d4. You look nervous, Mr. Barton." Sara placed her right knight in front of his pawn with a slight grin. Trowa ignored her as he picked up his bishop, saying, "Be7 takes c5." He took the pawn and placed it with the other. She smiled again and said, taking her knight, "Nd4 takes e6."
No, he lost a bishop! This isn't good. . .Quatre thought as he bit his lip.
"f7 takes e6." Trowa used a pawn beside her knight to take it.
"YEAH! OW!" Duo cheered before getting stuck by one of the guards whom he glared at spitefully, rubbing his head.
"Be2 to g4." Sara moved out her last bishop to rest behind the first.
"Qd8 to d6." Trowa moved his queen forward into the protection of his other pieces.
Oh, he moved her! God save the queen. . .Duo thought, a side thought of popcorn on his mind.
"Bg4 to h3." Sara's bishop retreated to the front of the pawns.
"Ra8 to e8." Trowa moved his right rook to stand next to the other like two towers guarding his side of the field.
"Qd1 to d2." Sara moved her queen forward a step into the open.
"Bc5 to b4." Trowa's remaining bishop ran forward to line up with the queen, her knight being the only thing keeping them distant.
"Bg5 takes f6." Her bishop swept away his knight standing guard in front of the rooks. He narrowed his eyes and smashed her bishop with his mighty rook, saying, "Rf8 takes f6."
"Ra1 to d1." She slid her left rook over the bottom of the board.
"Qd6 to c5." Trowa's queen stepped out to challenge a pawn protecting the king from her attack.
"Qd2 to e2." Sara's queen sidled up to the pawn to reinforce it.
"Bb4 takes c3." Trowa's bishop snuck over to her knight and brought it down.
"b2 takes c3." In retaliation, a pawn leapt forward and slew the bishop.
All this killing, it's like a real war. . .must we always battle to bring about peace? Quatre thought to himself, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Trowa's queen swept forward, taking her pawn in one move.
"Qc5 takes c3." Trowa said.
"Rd1 takes d5." Sara moved her rook across the field to take his pawn.
That was dumb, she could lose that now! Why did she. . .Duo stared in confusion at her daring move. Trowa stared thoughtfully at the board for a moment and Sara smugly commented, "What's the matter, set aback by my moves? Am I too much for you?"
I can't take her rook, I'll leave a clear way for her queen to take my rook and then it's checkmate. Trowa thought to himself, seeing her trap looming on the board. Instead of falling for her setup, he took his knight and jumped over her rook, saying, "Nc6 to d4."
Oh, he's forcing her to use the rook to take the knight, otherwise she loses her queen! Good move. . .Quatre thought with a smile. Unfortunately, she picked up her queen and briskly moved it across the board far from harm's way, saying, "Qe2 to h5."
No, now Trowa's rook is in danger!
Daddy, look out! Precious thought, whimpering softly as she watched her father slowly lose pieces to Sara's rampage.
"Re8 to f8." He sidestepped his rook to sit next to his king, out of her queen's range.
"Rd5 to e5." Sara's rook moved a square to the right.
"Rf6 to h6." Trowa's leading rook skipped over two spaces and sat in front of her queen, threatening her safety.
"Qh5 to g5." Her queen stepped out of range.
"Rh6 takes h3." With the path clear, Trowa's rook jumped across the board and took Sara's last bishop.
Yes, she's out her diagonal attackers! Now Trowa has an advantage still having one knight alive. Rachel thought, watching in interest.
"Re5 to c5." Her rook moved to the right and threatened Trowa's queen, keeping it safe from defensive attack with the queen at its side.
"Qc3 to g3." His queen met gazes with hers as they sat just two squares apart. She cringed and looked at her situation. Her guard of three pawns stood the only defense against his queen and rook.
"You'll lose, whatever move you make, just resign and save yourself the humiliation." Trowa said confidently, staring into her eyes with a cold glare. She growled and said, "I never give up! Qg5 takes g3!" Her queen greedily took his off the field.
"Nd4 to e2, check." Trowa said calmly, moving his knight into attacking distance. She grit her teeth, moving aside her king and saying, "Kg1 to h1." Quickly, Trowa took her queen with the knight and said, "Ne2 takes g3."
He's forcing her to choose which pieces she loses, it's over. Rachel saw the game crumbling into Trowa's favor.
"f2 takes g3." Sara said spitefully, knowing she had lost.
"Rf8 takes f1. Checkmate." Trowa said, hearing sighs of relief fill the room. Sara's eyes twitched as she muttered, "No. . .no one makes a fool of me. NO ONE!" Jumping up, she pulled out her gun and screamed, "I NEVER LOSE!" Suddenly, Michael wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and she gasped, falling to the floor. The guards, startled by this sudden change in events, frantically pulled up their guns to attack the enemy.
"Good luck to you, take care of my sister." Michael said before disappearing from the room.
He's gone. . .Rachel thought, immediately jumping to her feet and forming a shield around herself. The guards shot at her and the others but they had done the same, quickly using their powers to knock out the guards. Chris frantically ran to the control panel and jammed a large red button on the board before Trowa threw him across the room with his mind.
"No, he's killing them!" Quatre screamed, watching as the prisoners gagged and coughed, toxic fluids flowing into their systems. Rachel's eyes glazed over white and she began to glow, saying, "Not if I have anything to do with it." The hostages too glowed and broke free of their bondage, floating over the group. She muttered to herself and they stopped writhing, falling to their feet weakly to be caught by their loved ones and friends. Rachel landed on her feet and fell to the floor, gasping exhaustively. Duo quickly ran to her.
"Precious, are you okay?" Trowa cradled his daughter in his arms as she slowly stared up at him.
"Y-Yes, daddy. . .Hope. . ." She looked around for Hope and Quatre carried her over.
"She's not well, she needs medical attention." Quatre said.
"No she doesn't, she needs my attention." Trowa set Precious down and stood, taking her body from Quatre. Closing his eyes, they both glowed softly as Trowa whispered, "Look at me, Hope. . ." Slowly, she blinked open her eyes and stared up at him in wonder and amazement.
"T-Trowa? How. . .are you an. . .angel?" She gently rested a hand on his cheek and he smiled, saying softly, "Hardly." Quatre felt a warm tingle run through him at the sight of his friend finally showing true feelings toward someone other than his daughter.
"Rachel, speak to me!" Duo held Rachel gently, trying to wake her. Sopher and Iceman staggered over to him and Sopher said, "I think she wore herself out doing. . .whatever it is she did."
"I hope that's all. . ." Just then, Iceman looked up and said, "Oh, Mr. Hearn's family! Did they. . ."
"I forgot them! Let's go check!" Sopher said, jumping to his feet and running off with Iceman to the secondary holding cells.
"Asuka, are you felling better?" Chang asked, helping his wife up. She looked into his eyes weakly, saying as she touched his cheek, "You came for me. . .Chang. . ."
"Don't be absurd, woman, of course I did! You're my wife, after all. . .and. . .I love you. . ." Chang said, trying not to sound too romantic. She smiled and said, "Carry me. . ." Obediently, Chang lifted her in his arms and held her close as she rested her head on his shoulder. Sopher and Iceman returned carrying two small women in their arms.
"Who are they?" Quatre asked, looking up as they approached.
"Christina. . ." Rachel whispered, seeing the small girl Iceman had in his arms.
"She knows her? Well, that's just bizarre. . .maybe we should get out of here before reinforcements come." Iceman suggested. Quatre picked up Precious and the men circled together, pooling their energy to teleport to the ship. As soon as they set foot inside, they fell to the floor as Heero sharply turned the ship to the right.
"What took you so long, I was beginning to think you weren't coming back!" Heero shouted over his shoulder, firing on the ships attacking him.
"What's going on!" Duo shouted back, staggering over to the co-pilot's seat to help Heero.
"They're attacking, what does it look like! We have to destroy this place before they can get away." Heero said, bringing the ship around to take another pass at the base.
"No wait, Mr. Hearn's still-" Sopher started to speak but a tremendous explosion sent them reeling back, spinning off course with debris from the waterfall and bas beneath. Heero quickly regained control and steadied the ship, saying, "Looks like he's not going to be joining us. . ."
"He sacrificed his life to stop them? But. . .his family. . ." Sopher stared wide eyed at the mess settling into the river below, feeling his heart wrench in his chest.
"There's nothing we could have done, let's go home." Heero said, trying to be of some consolation. The group fell silent as they flew home to the Sanc Kingdom. As they reached the capitol, Rachel began to stir uneasily.
"What's wrong, Rach?" Duo looked down at his girlfriend and she returned the glance, a restless expression on her face.
"Something. . .doesn't feel right. . ." She muttered, looking around.
"You're just tired, you haven't used your powers so much in a long time." Duo tried to calm her but she shook her head.
"No. . .it's. . .it's not that, something else. . .I sense great anger. . .somewhere. . ." She shivered as a chill ran through her and Duo held her close.
"Maybe your senses are just feeling what we left behind. . ."
"Maybe. . ." She looked away groggily and looked to see smoke billowing from what used to be the capitol building. Everyone jumped to their feet in terror and Quatre ran to the front viewing window, screaming, "SAYLA!"
"What. . ." Heero looked on with wide eyes, quickly excelerating to reach the disaster faster. They landed on the front lawn of the capitol and piled out, running to the burning building. Quatre tried to enter but Duo grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"NO, SAYLA, WHAT IF SHE'S STILL IN THERE!" Quatre screamed, tears running down his cheeks as he fought to get free.
"Heero!" They all turned to see Noin limping toward them with Sayla by her side. Quatre threw off his captor and ran to his wife, saying, "SAYLA! Are you okay! The baby-"
"We're both fine, Noin's been hurt badly. . .we barely made it out alive." Sayla said, a look of disbelief on her face as she fell into her husband's arms. Noin collapsed to her knees and Heero ran to her, holding her up as he said, "Noin, what happened? Were you attacked! Was it NeOZ!"
"No. . .we weren't. . .attacked. . .so to speak. . ." She faintly responded, holding her arm painfully as she leaned against Heero's shoulder.
"Then what happened! Where's Relena and Milliardo?" Duo walked up, kneeling in front of Noin and touching her hand. She looked up with a distant look in her eyes.
"They. . .they're gone. . .after the fire. . ."
"Who did this? Tell me!" Heero demanded.
"They did. . ."
"Who's 'they'?"
"Milleena. . ." Noin's voice cracked, her eyes looking wild as memories of what happened raced through her mind.
