Two can play at that game (Matrim)

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel made another mistake he was looking so far ahead he was forgetting the present, his bishop was dying for nothing, Gabriel’s strategy was breaking and it was beginning to show, he’d broken into a sprint rather than being the turtle in the race. His teeth clenched though he tried to hide his anguish with more laxity this time, he didn’t have much of anything to move right now he was a slave to Matrim’s pawn, his Pawn! It upset him about as much as any insult ever could.

“How is it that you Reaper’s work? It would seem as if all of you…with the exception of one I’ve run into,” Gabriel smiled remembering his little bout with Kate, “seems so driven by what appeals to yourselves, not the bigger picture?”

Gabriel said in a calm voice, he already knew the answer it was a plotted question, he was no exception to it all people deep down were out for their own gains nothing could change that, the people he lead wanted peace and democracy so he’d give them that so long as they gave him what he wanted to get rid of all opposition.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"You know how I'm pretty paranoid? They are worse," Matrim said, "I don't know who the leaders are, I don't know who paints the bigger picture, I don't know who calls the shots. What I do know is limited. As far as the big picture goes, call me crazy but I don't think there is one, if there is they don't trust me with that knowledge. It's up to every member to do what they want, when they want. Ever member helps each other out, or is supposed to anyway. Frankly, I don't have much information on the Reaper organization. Like I said, joined it on a whim."

Then Matrim decided to ask a very straight forward question. He had only two more questions to ask, "And as payment for the bishop I killed, you are to answer me this question. What are the first and last names of all the militia members you know of?"

Matrim then made his move, not even looking at the board any more.

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[Gabriel Seran]

"And as payment for the bishop I killed, you are to answer me this question. What are the first and last names of all the militia members you know of?"

Gabriel slouched back crossing his arms, that was vital information that he could not give away it could turn the whole situation of this battle around. Gabriel was now turned to suspicion he thought Matrim had been lying to him, as a pillar and a reaper assumptions would say he was at the top of the food scale, had he been lying and what was stopping Gabriel from lying, honor? No it was perhaps a false sense of decency, but of course he would find a loophole in this it was apparent to see and he would in fact be telling the truth.

Gabriel laughed sitting up to make his move, “haven’t you heard? Militia is disbanded, partially, there is of course Rem,” Gabriel laugher again at the man who tried quelling the Militia preventing them from their full potential, “Since moving here there’s been much more than simply Militia you need to worry about.” Gabriel plastered a satisfied grin.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Do not lie to me, do not avoid the question," Matrim said with a smile on his face, "I know Ryuu Hikari is one, and I know that Emily is a reaper. As well as Trizen if I'm not horribly mistaken. You see, that was partially a test, and partially to make sure I was right. Ryuu Hikari was not at 259, so I know they are still making moves."

Matrim made his move, taking yet another pawn without even looking at the board, "So once you tell me the truth behind that question, you will answer another one. In the end of this, I don't care about your plans or anything of the sort. My question instead is, what do you have to gain. And I don't want some bullshit about the greater good, that's what everyone else gets out of this deal. And I don't want to hear 'the warm fuzzies', what do you get from your plans in the end?"

Matrim wasn't even focusing on the board, only the questions.

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[Gabriel Seran]

"So once you tell me the truth behind that question, you will answer another one. In the end of this, I don't care about your plans or anything of the sort. My question instead is, what do you have to gain. And I don't want some bullshit about the greater good that’s what everyone else gets out of this deal. And I don't want to hear 'the warm fuzzies', what do you get from your plans in the end?"

Gabriel sat back watching the board again, these questions were pointless if he knew it all then why bother to ask, throwing his attention elsewhere. What Gabriel could not do is tell him the end game, that was something he had to consul with himself for the time being as for his gains he would tell the full truth.

“As for the first one, I gave you nothing but the truth Militia died off early in the school year, a few members were drafted before but there has been not a single meeting since our dispute with leadership, most of the members like me went our separate ways.” Gabriel eyed up the board to move his King, a king must move for his troops to follow.

“And as for what I have the gain…nothing” Gabriel paused looking up, he had absolutely nothing to gain but everything to lose, this was not for him it was for everything, they wanted peace now the people would get it, but at what cost, “Everything.”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Generalizations I see," Matrim said, replying to how the boy had answered his questions. He had everything to gain then, so it was about the power to some extent. In his good motives there was a hint of greed. There was, there had to be. Matrim was certain of this, and he was hoping there was. Because for what he was planning, something had to fuel him, something had to keep him going. His resolve was beyond amazing for his certainty. Whatever he was getting from this, he wanted it bad.

"In any case Militia is still up and running without you. Somebody is pulling the strings, probably Emily." Matrim said, thinking about it. "But, I suppose no questions were asked, so no answers should be given." Matrim moved his Queen. Not looking at the board. He had worked over a lot of scenario's in his head. He just hoped this game would end quickly.

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[Gabriel Seran]

"In any case Militia is still up and running without you. Somebody is pulling the strings, probably Emily."

There were a few, in fact Gabriel could even be to blame for Militia’s continued existence he’d given people the thought that it did however in the truest fact it was a thing of the past, the ones still clutching onto it where remnants. Emily held it close along with those closest to her, David Blaze probably as well however much he despised the gangs. Gabriel knew deep down that Blaze wanted the power that’s why the man always opposed whoever the people followed, his underdog motives never seemed to work out in his favor.

"But, I suppose no questions were asked, so no answers should be given."

Gabriel sighed looking at the board, he was in a pickle. If he didn’t make the right move here he’d loose, and now he was certain, there would be blood. It would carry over from this board game to the current situation Gabriel knew revolutions lived off of it and he was to make due with what he had.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

Damn, so it's not going to be that easy... oh well, at least I shook things up a bit. And I'll come out of it with a pretty decent even standing. I'll just have to start making some bigger moves......

Matrim made his move, moving his bishop but not taking any of Gabriel's pieces. The position was simple, instead of putting Gabriel in a check situation and sacrificing his Rook, he took away what little support the rook had, but put Gabriel's own mind into a chaotic way of thinking. The boy was easily fooled when he was put into the heat of things, his mind became so focused on one situation that a curve ball like this might actually discombobulate him a little.

No questions from me yet. That's for certain. Not to mention he's not exactly answering them honestly, but not like I was expecting him to.

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel watched his move this time taking an intense moment to observe the board, from first glance it looked like a fairly useless move, in the long run maybe but it seemed as if perhaps he jumped the gun on it, didn't clearly think it through he had Gabriel on the run in fact Gabriel though he'd have only so many turns left after this but as it would seem He'd been given a second chance at this.

Perhaps it was a trap, the thought crossed his mind, one slip up and this game was done on either side. He waited patiently observing everything at once. one false move would prove victory for the other, only so many moves and he made his...

"What do you have to gain Matrim?" He grinned masterfully, "What is it that you want out of everything to come of this school, just want to put the last nail in the coffin..."

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"I don't want a thing, well I do. But here's the thing," Matrim said with a grin on his face, "I don't have a desire for power, I have a desire to prove my strength, to take on new challenges. To constantly test and train myself, to see what I am capable of. And it's exciting when I lose, I love a fair fight ending with me losing. It shows that I can still improve! It means there is more for me to do. I was so.... bored. I'm a fighter, I am a muscle guy through and through. Am I smart? Yes, I'm smart. But in the end I love a good scrap every now and then. What I don't like.... is war."

He got a stern look on his face, "I've had friends of mine die. I know that sounds lame but the fact is that I am not used to having friends, I have very few of them. I'm more of the type who likes to have rivals. Friendly competitions that have a bit of dislike for the other person. It allows you to help others get strong, and for others to help you get strong. There is no getting stronger from death. No sportsmanship in killing. No honor in forcing a person to fight for their lives when they would rather have peace. Those who seek peace should be given it. Those who seek conflict should do so with others who seek conflict, and leave those who seek peace out of it."

Matrim took his Queen. He wasn't worried about this now, he would come out of this a piece up on the kid which was all he really wanted.

"Who are your followers? The people you have that you count on? Your allies?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

Lies. Everyone has something to gain, however influential or inspiring Matrim's words were they amounted to nothing in the end, war was a reoccurring effect you could not have peace without war, love without hate. It all came full circle and the sooner one realized it the sooner they became a master of their own will.

"Who are your followers? The people you have that you count on? Your allies?"

Gabriel laughed lightly, "Going for all the pieces you can get at I assume, all right then, there are all those in Militia, a few rag tags in the school ranks recent acquaintances you see, all I can count on comes to about twelve key members along with a good standing army of the majority of the student body." Gabriel glinted with a smile, flexing his own metaphoric muscle.

He moved his piece decisively, "I don't have any more to ask but I'll save it for when I do."

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"And to think I was sitting here worried," Matrim said, laughing slightly. He knew the Militia members, and none of them were Matrim's enemy. Not a single one. Not in his minds eye at least, all of which were greater friends to Matrim, at least... he hoped. Ryuu for certain if not others as well. That was just the simple fact of it all, "Twelve core members, not bad... I pray they are strong enough to hold their own. I imagine what you have planned might end in a few casualties."

It wasn't a question, but a statement. Of course, this game had become dangerous, questions could be asked, and questions could be determined by anything simple. But Matrim's next one was straight forward as he took the knight, saving his rook but condemning his Bishop. He was tied with the kid, with a rook in play, and he had a knight he could bring out. Both had been placed in check, but only Gabriel had moved his king. This was one of those games that would come down to the last second.

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[Gabriel Seran]

"Twelve core members, not bad... I pray they are strong enough to hold their own. I imagine what you have planned might end in a few casualties."
Gabriel scoffed, "I assure you they can, and we can only hope that there will be as little damage as possible."

Gabriel wasn't sure of what was to come of course he'd integrated losses into his grand scheme though there could always be hope it was something that people had to rely on like God, Faith. People needed something to keep pushing, if he were to say I expect great losses no one would bother fighting but a lie like 'I expect a total victory' would pool people to a grand effort. What was so bad in a white lie if it contributed to a victory?

"So no question? I thought you had a bundle." He laughed taunting as he made his move. if only Gabriel had taken that rook, spiting the movement he made the second best of the group.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"So no question? I thought you had a bundle." Gabriel asked, and Matrim looked up letting out a 'hmm?' and then realized he hadn't asked one. He made his next move since it had no consequence of asking another question. And then he smiled looking back up into his opponents eyes with his eyes lit up a bit. He was having fun, he had got so caught up in the game for a moment he forgot about the game going on outside of Chess.

"Yeah, what's your Qi?" He asked with a grin afterwards, chuckling slightly since he knew this was something he didn't know. He wanted to know it ahead of time if he ever fought him. He wondered if he was a psychic, or perhaps an elemental, possibly someone who enhances their own physical abilities with strength, or possibly something new.

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[Gabriel Seran]

With a wry smirk Gabriel snapped his hands together creating a small force of friction between his palms, enough to generate a small voltage, "Let me show you." The electricity slowly pulsated around him the faster he rubbed his fingers together. he didn't look for a more powerful source because it would only prove that he couldn't manipulate it by himself thus giving a weakness. What Matrim didn't know wouldn't hurt him, or it may soon enough.

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