by Parker, Jack
"How have you been?" he asked her suddenly, snapping her from her thoughts.
"What?" she asked, seeming slightly zoned out still.
"You seem a little out of it," he said to her as he mixed in a few things to the soup he was cooking. "I was just wondering how you were doing."
"I'm fine," she told him. He sighed before changing the conversation slightly.
"You do know," he began as he turned to her, "that I was a friend of your father's right?"
"A lot of people were," she said as she rested her arms on the table in front of her. "Sam was a friend of his too."
"Sam?" questioned Dr. Solaris.
"He owns a restaurant in Torran. He gives me free food when I ask for it." Dr. Solaris just smiled as he went back to stirring his concoction.
"Is it hard?" he asked her softly, earning him a confused look from the nineteen year old.
"Is what hard?" she asked.
"Being alone."
"But I'm not…"
"Don't lie to me Ray," he interrupted, glancing back at her. "Others may not see it, but I'm not blind." Ray turned her head away. She was about to answer him when Chris came into the kitchen.
"Is lunch ready?" he asked.
"Not yet," responded his father. "Why not play a quick game of chess with Leon?"
"Chess?" questioned Ray, sounding interested.
"Yeah," said Chris with a small smile. "We play sometimes, but Leon is much better at it than I am." Ray just smiled. "Do you like chess?" he asked as an afterthought.
"Yeah," she said. "I used to play all the time."
"Do you want to play?" he offered. Ray shook her head, but stood up nonetheless.
"I think I'll just watch," she said as she walked with him into the living room area. Chris began to set it up just as Leon came down the hallway.
"Hey Leon," greeted Chris. "Do you want to play chess?" Leon smiled at his younger brother and walked over. It was a cocky smile, one Ray hated. He was obviously good at the game. A smile like that only came with bragging rights. It made her wonder just how good he really was.
"Sure," he responded as he walked over to the couch. He sat down across from Chris, positioning himself in front of the white pieces. Chris sat down in front of the black ones. Ray sat off to the side, watching. To a lot of people, watching a chess game probably wasn't very interesting. However, Ray found the game very fascinating. It took brain power to win, along with very sharp eyes. She decided to study the way they played.
Chris went first, making an obvious first move. It was the same move that most used when playing chess. However, Leon did the same. Ray watched as they moved piece by piece, some moves taking longer to consider than others. There were ones that were obvious, others that took good eyes to see. Some pieces from each side were removed, and it looked like Chris was winning, but Leon quickly began to dominate the board. Pretty soon, Chris's black pieces were outnumbered by the white ones.
"Your move," said Leon as he watched Chris decide on a move. There weren't too many he could take anymore. Leon's pieces were closing in around his king, guarded only by a few remaining pawns. Ray knew as well as Leon did that there wasn't a single move that Chris could make that wouldn't give Leon an opportunity to checkmate him. Ray just smirked. Actually, there was one move.
Chris hesitantly reached to his king, moving it one space. That was the end. Leon picked up his queen and made the final move.
"Checkmate," he said with a smirk. The word flowed so smoothly from his lips, showing that he had probably said it at least a hundred times. Chris just sighed as he looked at his pieces. He turned the king on its side, showing his defeat.
"Lunch is ready!" called Dr. Solaris. The three of them stood up, deciding to clean up the chess game later.
* * * *
After lunch, Leon decided to go for a drive. Dr. Solaris went with him, leaving Chris in his room and Ray in the living room. Ray was staring at the chessboard. She was monitoring the position of the pieces. Chris obviously didn't realize that he was a better chess player than he thought himself to be. If he had only looked harder, he could have lasted a few more turns.
"What are you doing?" questioned Chris as he walked into the room.
"Just putting away the chessboard," she answered as she began to place the pieces back in their proper spots. Chris sat down next to her, picking up the few pieces that had fallen onto the floor.
"You said that you play chess," he began, earning him a nod. "Are you any good?" Ray laughed a little. She wasn't just good; she was great. She knew of almost every trick, every move. She hadn't lost in ages.
"Yeah," she responded, trying to be modest. "I'm pretty good." She replaced the black queen next to her king. "You know, you're not half bad either." Chris just smiled shyly.
"Thanks," he said.
"Have you ever won a game?" she questioned out of curiosity as she began resetting the black pawns.
"Not against Leon," he explained. "He's much better than I am. It's almost like he knows what I'm going to do before I do it." Ray just smiled.
"That's because he knows you too well," she began. "I know that if you spent a little more time picking your moves that you could probably beat him."
"I don't know…" he trailed off, sounding a little disappointed. "Leon has always been better at me at almost everything. Why should this be any different?"
"Come on, don't be like that," she encouraged. "How about I teach you a few tricks?" He glanced at her, noticing the smile on her face.
"You'd be willing to help me?" he asked.
"Of course!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "I've never been beaten. I'm sure I can teach you a few things." She extended her hand, as if this was like making a deal. "But if I train you, you have to try your hardest to beat Leon this time, okay?" Chris just smiled and shook her hand.
"Alright," he said with a pinch of excitement in his voice. Ray stood up, the chessboard finally set.
"Okay, let's get started, shall we?" she asked as she sat in front of the white pieces. Chris walked over to the black ones and made his first move. Ray just smiled. This would be fun. She really did want to help Chris out. She knew how it felt to always be beaten at something. Just one win was all he needed to boost his confidence a little. However, that wasn't her only motive. She wanted to see the look on Leon's face when he was beaten at his own game.
CHAPTER 9
Misunderstanding
Almost an entire week had gone by, and nothing remotely exciting had happened. If Ray wasn't out shopping with Leon, she was training Chris in the art of chess. The more time she spent with Leon, the more she wanted Chris to cream him at the strategic game. He was a pain, forever arguing with her or giving her nasty glares. He was really beginning to get on her nerves. He hadn't been quite so bad when she had first met him. Why now? What had she done?
"Well Chris," she told the boy with a smile. "I think you should be ready now." Chris just smiled as he looked over the chess board. Ray had taught him moves he hadn't thought of using, including different beginning approaches.
"Thanks Ray," he said as he picked up the chessboard. "I think I'll go challenge him right now." Ray stood up and followed him to the living room. Leon was lounging on the couch, the TV remote in his hand, but the TV was off. He glanced at the two of them out of the corner of his eye.
"What do you want?" he asked lazily.
"Let's play chess," suggested Chris with a smile. Leon couldn't help but smile back. Next to Geno battling, chess was his favorite game. The fact that he always won just made the whole experience that much better. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head.
"Alright," he said. Chris set the board down on the coffee table and pulled up a chair. Ray sat down next to Leon, deciding to watch. "Just what are you doing?" he asked her.
"Watching," she stated.
"What for?"
"I'm Chris's personal trainer," she stated proudly. "I have to see him beat you." Leon just smirked confidently.
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br /> "No one beats me," he told her with a cocky tone to his voice. Ray just smirked, knowing full well that Leon would have a real challenge this time. Chris had gotten really good thanks to her help.
Chris made his first move, and instead of moving out a pawn, he used his knight. Ray stole a glance at Leon. She smirked when she saw the slight confusion develop on his face. The opening move was obviously a little foreign to him. He was used to Chris's normal first move. He would usually put out a pawn. Not knowing exactly what to do, Leon hesitantly moved out one of his pawn. The game had begun, and Leon's confidence was already slipping.
Chris had moved out both knights and both bishops before even touching a pawn. In a display of well thought out tactics, he was slaughtering Leon's defenses. When Leon started using his queen to make a comeback, Chris set up a trap that the older boy ended up falling for. As the word "check" fell from Leon's lips, it was quickly drawn back as his queen was annihilated by Chris's. The tides of the game were quickly shifting to Chris's black pieces.
"Make your move, Leon," said Chris as Leon pondered over his options. Ray was a little nervous. She had played the game enough to notice flaws in her strategies. There was a flaw in Chris's. There was one move that Leon could make that would put Chris into a check. After that, Leon would be able to put him into a checkmate. However, for a man like Leon, one who wasn't used to being beaten at his own game, the pressure would alter his mind. He wouldn't be able to see it. His moves had been sloppy since the beginning.
Leon picked up a piece, one of his last pawns, and moved it. Surprisingly, Chris didn't take it, and moved another piece, the word "check" falling from his lips. Leon moved his king to the only place he could see. He took one of Chris's pawns. His last mistake. Chris took Leon's pawn, replacing it with his rook.
"Checkmate," said the sixteen year old, his dark brown eyes gleaming with excitement. Leon was shocked to say the least. He had never lost before. Chris stood up, obviously enthused about his victory over his brother.
"Congratulations Chris," said Ray with a smile.
"I have to go tell dad!" he shouted as he ran down the hall to his father's study. Leon just stared at the chessboard, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong. This just wasn't logical. Ray placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright Leon," she told him. "Everyone loses sometimes."
"I don't get it," he said softly. "Where did I go wrong?"
"About three or four moves ago," she told him, earning her a small glare.
"What?" he questioned.
"It's kind of sad really, because normally you probably would have seen it," she told him as she picked up his discarded queen, rolling it in her fingers. "You were too shaken this time by Chris's sudden skill and by all the strange moves he was making. I guess that's what you get by underestimating your opponent." She set the queen down and leaned back on the couch.
"Why did you do that?" he asked her, as if accusing her of something.
"Do what?" she asked innocently.
"Tutor Chris. It's only because of you that he won," stated Leon. "It isn't fair."
"Oh please," she said as she reclined more. "Let him have his moment, because you've had plenty. Unlike you, Chris doesn't get attention from the media, even though he should. I mean, let's face it. The only reasons you get publicity is because you're related to Dr. Solaris, you're cute, and you're a decent pilot." Leon couldn't help but smile at the last two comments, but his smile fell as she finished. "You're nothing but a conceited, cocky warrior." He scowled as the words fell from her lips carelessly.
"Now wait a second," he began. "I'm not the conceited one here, Ray. What about you, miss ace knight of the GRC, miss 'I was piloting by the age of twelve'? Well I'm sorry, but some of us have worked really hard to get media status. It didn't just come naturally like it did for you." Ray's eyes flared slightly.
"Come naturally?" she questioned inaudibly as her eyes narrowed in irritation. Leon wasn't done yet, and his voice only kept rising.
"I practiced for years to get to where I am," he told her. "I spent hours on end trying to build up my Geno's abilities and my own. I studied and trained until I could barely stand! But it all came easy for you, Ray. Your Geno can even move when you're not piloting! You think you're so damn high and mighty, you and your stupid, baseless Geno!" A loud crack sounded in the room. Leon's eyes were wide, the side of his face now red. He placed a hand over his throbbing cheek, turning his eyes to an angry Ray, her eyes flaring with both resentment and deep hurt.
"Just shut up!" she yelled at him as she rubbed her hand. "Don't talk like you know me! You don't know how hard I had to work to get to where I am today! You don't have a damn clue how hard it was for me! I trained for days on end, barely managing four hours of sleep a night. I spent years memorizing every strategy, learning how to read gun angles, bullet projections, all of it! I've been piloting since I was nine, Leon. It didn't just come to me." Her eyes softened a little, filling with traces of fear. "I don't know why my Geno moves on its own. I don't know why it responds to me like that, and to be honest, it scares me. However Leon, remember this. You can say whatever you want about me, it makes no difference, but no one insults my Geno. No one." With that said, she ran from the living room, heading down the hallway. The sound of a door slamming soon followed. Leon just sat there, staring off into space.
"Leon," called Dr. Solaris, drawing his son's attention. The doctor stood at the entryway to the living room from the hallway. He was leaning against the wall, a scowl on his face. "That was uncalled for," he told his son. "You had no right to say those things to her, to berate her like that. That girl has been through hell. You know nothing about her, about what she's been put through. Just what do you have against her anyway? It seems like ever since she got here, all you've done is harass her." Leon didn't say anything. He only lowered his head. "Answer me," his father demanded.
"We were fine without her," stated Leon angrily, earning him a look riddled with confusion. "Chris and I can handle the battles without her help."
"I know that," said Dr. Solaris, causing Leon's enraged expression to falter a little.
"What?" he asked his father.
"I'm aware that the two of you can battle by yourselves."
"Then why did you have Ray join our team?" asked Leon, now overwhelmingly confused. Dr. Solaris just stared at his son as it all began to come together.
"Is that why you've been so rude to her lately?" he asked his son who only turned away slightly. Dr. Solaris sighed deeply. "I suppose I should have said something sooner, but I didn't think you'd react like this. Listen, Ray isn't here to help us. We're helping her."
"What?" questioned Leon, still confused.
"I suggested that she stay here instead of at her base," he explained. "She was attacked four times in one week. In order to protect her, we're hiding her at our base. I had no intention of having her actually join the team." Leon's eyes were wide as he began to regret what he had said to Ray.
"I…I didn't know," he told his father.
"Yes, I know, and I suppose that's my fault. I should have said something sooner. But still, that didn't give you the right to speak to her like that. Ray deserves respect."
"Why?" began Leon bitterly. "Because she's the ace knight?"
"No!" scolded Dr. Solaris. "Because she's human. She's been through more than you can imagine, and if you'd take the time to really pay attention, perhaps you'd see it. You were always so good at reading people, so why can't you see through her? That girl spends everyday wondering if she'll live long enough to see the next morning. Her life is placed on the line regularly. She's gone through hell, Leon, and the last thing she needs is for you to verbally harass her like that!" Leon lowered his head, staring at the floor. Guilt was slowly flooding his mind, followed closely by shame. He really hadn't been fair to her. He was always starting the arguments, but this time she ended it. He knew that he deserved more than just a slap from Ray. He deserved a pummeling afte
r harassing her like that, after all the insults since she had gotten there.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't tell me," demanded Dr. Solaris. "You owe Ray an apology." Leon nodded slowly as he stood up. He passed his father and walked down the hallway towards Ray's room. He knocked once.
"Ray?" he questioned. He knocked a little harder, and the door slowly swung open. He pushed it the rest of the way. "Ray?" he questioned again. There was no response. She wasn't in the room.
Leon quickly shut the door and ran back to the living room. Dr. Solaris was still standing there.
"Well?" he asked his son.
"I can't find her," explained Leon, somewhat panicked.
"What?" he questioned as his expression fell.
"She's not in her room." Both of them ran back to Ray's room, throwing open the door. Her window was wide open, the curtains blowing gently in the breeze.
"She wouldn't…" whispered Dr. Solaris as Leon ran to the window.
"Ray!" he shouted out it, but there was no response. There was no sign of the girl anywhere. However, there was a rather large indent in the sand below.
Both men ran out of the room and down the hall. They went into Dr. Solaris's study. The door in his room, the one that lead downstairs, had been carelessly thrown open. They ran down the stairs that led into the hanger. What they saw startled them. Only two Genos were there. Ray's was gone. The hanger door was wide open, giving them a perfect view of the desert. The wind was blowing wildly, whistling as it passed through the large room.
"She…she left," noted Dr. Solaris as he stared out across the desert. The faint sign of footprints was at the mouth of the hanger in the desert sands, but the wind was slowly ebbing them away.
The sound of someone walking down the metal stairs drew their attention. Chris was coming down the stairs that came from the kitchen.
