Chapter 5:
Mechanical Chess : The Pawn
Adeline screamed aggravatedly into her coms. Her opportunity to attack Harrison was delayed making way for a useless move, an intentional move to aggravate her. Adeline began pacing impatiently around D5 as Harrison turned around breaking visual contact, most likely speaking with other teammates to discuss their next move. If it was up to Harrison, he’d have challenged Adeline immediately once the timer rang out for their fight, she was sure of it. But the Sentinel’s wouldn’t send him in without a back up plan of some kind. And now that the ball
Adeline turned and looked at the Golem’s queen. A massive Seren Unit standing roughly eight stories tall, it was the largest unit on the team. Decked out in the gray and black uniform of the Golem’s the Seren commanded a menacing and unsettling aura that Adeline learned to get used to. Adeline opened a com with the queen, holding back as much of her frustration as she could. “Why didn’t you put me in?”. Adeline maintained he stare at the queen, waiting for the response she was owed. After several seconds the queens head moved and looked down at Adeline, but no response came over the mic.
Adeline sneered under her helmet as she went to speak again. “Samantha, why didn’t you put me in?” Adeline said more sternly. The queen unit looked up before responding. “You will not refer to me by my name Adeline. On the board you will call me Queen or Ms. Eisle. Do I make myself clear?” Adeline’s sneer pulled back into an angry scowl as her question was ignored and replaced with a reprimand for being disrespectful. She continued pacing, her anger fumbling all her choice words for the Queen. “I had him right there, right there Queen. I had him and you let him go.” Adeline turned back around looking at the Pilgrim, her blood beginning to boil as her months of preparation waned in the wind over some mentor lesson bull.
“You’re too eager Adeline. You’re letting your anger guide your hand and you will overextend if you go up against Harrison.” Adeline had heard this critique before, many times in fact. Over the years since Adeline became Ms. Eisle’s ward she had trained under her nearly every day to become as skilled of a pilot as she was now. But she has never defeated the Queen in a duel, nor does she believe she ever could. She heeds her advice with great caution, but it doesn’t make it any less infuriating to hear. “You’ll get your chance to fight Adeline, but I won’t give it to you if you don’t learn to control yourself.”
The buzzer rang out as the Sentinel’s selected their move. Adeline faced center once again anticipating the attack she knew was coming. Harrison would step onto her square and face her in her own domain, a handicap in her eyes. She didn’t need the defensive advantage to defeat him. If she was allowed to attack, she could’ve proven herself without the handicap. “SENTINEL’S, KNIGHT AT B1 TO C3”. Adeline looked out at the knight with a hesitant stare. “Xavier Johnson.” She thought. A well-seasoned fighter, moved for a countermeasure. They were planning to attack her. D5 was now the imminent first battleground of the match.
The buzzer rang again signaling the Golem’s turn. Adeline waited for the obvious answer, she didn’t even bother to turn on her coms to hear the rapid chatter of her teammates vying for some glory or to flex their expertise to the King to influence his decision. Adeline began focusing on her attack. If she wasn’t moved and another piece was, she’d be in direct range of attack from not only Harrison but Xavier as well. The Queen wouldn’t allow that to happen without showing her hand more then she already has. The Queen could move her one space ahead to D4 to avoid the fight but then she’d look like a coward to the crowd. Out of harms way, but safe isn’t entertaining. If she engages Harrison she’d be attacking as she wanted, but the Queen was resistant before, so she’d probably be resistant again. If she remained and another piece was moved in her stead Xavier would probably engage on the Sentinels turn. A fight for sure, but not the fight she wanted. There was also a decent chance that Xavier’s move was a threat, and if that was the case, the Queen would also respond with one.
Adeline looked behind her once again. The Queen remained unmoved as the King and the right bishop frantically moved about at the edge of their squares undoubtedly trying to persuade each other of the best move to make. The other named pieces argued amongst themselves as the pawns stood looking forward. She never bothered to learn any of their names, but she could generalize. The pawns were all eager to fight so they could rise like her. The named pieces were either after a paycheck or glory. Some of the more clever or advantageous ones would be seeking the rewards from the matches. But for any hope of winning some of them you don’t have to worry about getting fights but favor from the King. In her own case, the Queen.
A com came online in Adeline’s hud. It was a pawn from further down the board, the one moved in the last turn as a misdirect. “You think you’re something really special, don’t you?”. Adeline didn’t acknowledge the question, they were frustrated as she was, but instead of directing their anger at the board they were directing their anger at her. “The Ward of the Queen.” The pawn continued. “Groomed for the sole purpose of standing right here. As we speak, they’re deciding where to send you and you alone.” Adeline remained silent, not willing to bite the bait. “There are seven more of us here, seven brand new shiny pawns who worked our tails off to stand here just as you are and the only pawn they can decide to fight over is you.” Adeline looked over at Harrison as he resumed his starting position, presumably ready for their move. “You’re not even listening to me now, are you?” the pawn said solemnly.
Indeed, Adeline had not been listening to the pawn. She had zoned out the second he began talking. She was instead focusing on Harrison. She wished for the fight with him, she almost prayed for it. She wanted to lay out the golden boy with all his expected greatness falling to his feet by her hand. She wanted it so bad she could taste it in the back of her throat and feel it behind her eyes. Before she could get too caught up in her own thoughts the siren rang out for the Golem’s move. Adeline strained her fingers as they turned into fists, waiting for the call. Her fight had been delayed once; it better not be delayed again. “GOLEM’S, QUEEN AT D8 TO D6.”
Adeline froze. “What could that witch be planning?” she thought as she slowly turned behind her to view the Queen. Like clockwork the Queen began to power up , deciding to show off in her movement the Queen’s iron hem decompressed from her mech, twirling around it’s hips in a showy fashion as several small jets on the legs lifted her into the air. She floated gingerly and gracefully towards Adeline, the shimmering of the hem reflecting the various lights in the stadium in an array of different directions. Adeline glimpsed at the multitude of weapons on the hem’s interior sides. Bombs, grenades, knives, and guns of all grades and types, as much as Adeline disliked her choices she couldn’t disagree with her preparedness and knowledge of the battle.
As the Queen continued her approach her true size became more apparent. The sound of the Queens engines and the straining of her metal began to override the sounds of Adeline’s own pawn. Adeline continued staring as the Queen came to rest behind her, her hem interlocking back together forming the mechs skirt as she landed gently on the squares surface. “I never understood why they called it the iron hem if it’s more like a skirt.” Adeline looked back as the Queen’s flight mode continued to deactivate as the hem latched around her waist and the jets receded into the main body, leaving the sleek enclosed design undisturbed and unblemished. “Perhaps it just sounds cooler.” Adeline thought to herself turning back around facing front. The timer rang out announcing the end of the Golem’s turn and the start of the Sentinel’s.
Adeline wasn’t as worried this time around. The Golem’s last move was not to prevent Adeline’s fight but to reinforce it with a guard. If a Sentinel piece were to attack her and win, they’d have to fight the queen if they survived. Most piece and Kings would be cautious to throw such valuable pieces in this trap, but it was a way for everyone to see each other’s hands before the game gets too long. If they didn’t bite, they’re playing carefully. If they do, they’re being reckless. But a decision had to be made, and if Harrison didn’t move then Adeline would the next turn. This will happen. The will they won’t they had lasted long enough, and even the Queen wouldn’t bury the lead for that long without putting on a show.
Despite this move being okay in Adeline’s book, it still made her feel small. Literally and figuratively. The only thing threatening D5 besides herself was one of the most powerful pieces on the board. She felt like a kitten trying to pick a fight with a dog and the only reason the dog didn’t fight back was because mama cat was standing right behind her. And mama cat had a known and recorded history of screwing up pilots that messed with her. Not the pilots directly of course but their mechs. Turning them into unrecognizable piles of scrap using every move and weapon to bring her to the cusp of a penalty without it being called. The Queen was a walking threat and everyone knew it. Except for the newbies that she preyed upon. Adeline knew firsthand how much the Queen enjoyed messing with new pilots. So much so that this whole wait and bait scheme may also be to get Harrison, but he’d have to get through herself first. The thought of the Queen wanting to take down Harrison personally, it was upsetting but Adeline knew even she wouldn’t be so cruel.
Adeline took off her helmet and took a deep breath. All around her were beeping lights and an eerie industrial yellow glow from the service lights in the cockpit. A vast number of switches and dials circled her harness, some important and some for show. Adeline wanted to open the mech for some fresh air, but it was forbidden to open the cockpit of a mech while a match was going on when not in a hangar. Adeline messed with her two braids until she noticed Harrison looking in her direction on the side feed in the cockpit. She dropped her braids on her shoulders and sat up, staring at him through the feed. She didn’t swear or cures, she didn’t even grit her teeth like she had been. What she did do however was ask him questions. “How do you handle it?” Adeline began. “How do you handle the pressure and the expectation to be all that, all the time.” Adeline hesitated as if waiting for an answer for a couple seconds. “It wasn’t easy for me, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you. Yet here we both stand.”
Adeline put her helmet back on and opened a folder with various documents and photographs about the opposing team in detail. More specifically about Harrison. Half of these files were brief conversations from either of Harrison’s parents about his training, snippets from premieres and awards shows and lectures. Occasionally Harrison even showed up to comment on his progress. While these clips weren’t too enlightening or helpful on their own, all together they wove an interesting tapestry of Harrison’s experience. Luther Andross taught him with sparring and scenarios. Amy Andross taught him with the utility of his mech and the proper choice of weapons. Harrison himself focused on knowing his environment. All together despite his lack of experience, Harrison’s knowledge rivaled that of a veteran, and wasn’t to be taken lightly.
Adeline quickly brought up her own history, a much more vast and complete trove paired with her own memory of the events. Her training was restricted, often based around the opponent. But playing off your opponent required intelligence and at least a smidge of personal knowledge. The Queen made sure that Adeline knew how to dig. And dig she could. For instance, Adeline knew that Florence was an endurance player. You wouldn’t use your best weapons against her until you did a good bit of running and poking. Trying to slow her down more than damaging her outright. With Xavier you’d play the low game, waiting for him to strike before you did, making him lose focus by letting the clock weigh on him. The only trick there is performing fantastic feats in a time crunch and avoiding Xavier as he looked for you. Against The Queen, there was nothing much you could do. Only experience and luck ever won against her, but a note that everyone who has seen her fight can tell you is to not let her get under you. Stay low.
Adeline checked the timer. The Sentinel’s had two more minutes to decide their move. She began to become impatient as the thoughts of what could be happening crept into her mind again. “Were they stalling? Were they really dumbfounded with how to move forward? Was she even on their radar for the next move, or would they move around her and take her fight from her?” Adeline grew antsy. Tapping her foot on the bottom of her cockpit and rubbing her hands together. The uncertainty ate away at her like a fire through a dry log. She couldn’t take it for much longer. “Should I radio the Queen? Should I ask for her advice?” These questions floated to the top of her mind only to sink immediately as Adeline’s pride retook the better of her. She’d be dead in the cold hard ground before she’d go to the Queen for advice. Willingly at least.
Adeline looked around the board. The other mechs down the line were falling into place awaiting the siren. The roar of the audience had become a quiet murmur of anticipation as the potential for the first fight was just around the corner. The first fight of the season. The first win or the first defeat for Adeline in her history as a professional pilot. Alongside anxiousness and frustration arose a new feeling. Fear.
“What if she failed? What if everything she had worked for, trained for, resulted in nothing more then a quick defeat and an embarrassing end?” Adeline began to sweat as these new possibilities collided with her existing ones. She couldn’t afford to lose. She’d embarrass herself and the Queen. And as much as she hated to admit it embarrassing the Queen’s efforts would be the same as embarrassing herself. How could Adeline not learn from one of the greatest pilots alive.
Adeline’s bout of self-doubt was interrupted by the sound of the siren echoing through the stadium. The Sentinel’s had chosen their move. All the mechs including Adeline looked off into the direction of the announcer’s cabin, eagerly awaiting the announcement. The quiet murmur of the audience had fallen to nothing as silence, true silence, enveloped the stadium. “SENTINEL’S,” Amy Andross began. A million thoughts invaded Adeline’s mind as she waited with bated breath for the answer she yearned for since the night she was drafted. Her opportunity, her right, and her first major step towards greatness was forming here in front of her. Now all she needed was the chance. And it was here. Amy Andross with an excited tone and energy called out with pep and glee at the move. “PAWN AT C4 TO D5.”
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