Two can play at that game (Matrim)

[Matrim Gallagher]

"Electricity... I've fought a lot of your type," Matrim said looking at it, "My first fight ever in school was with an electric user.... strange, whenever I fight one now it's kind of.... nostalgic. Leon Sudeki had so much raw power that when I fought his electricity he totaled me... and then there was Isaac Claymore, who taught me how to take care of electric users.... how to take care of some of them anyway."

Leon I couldn't beat, but getting Isaac wet seemed to turn his ability against him in a sickening way. We were both hurt by his Qi, but in the end I was tougher than he was...

Matrim made his move, taking a pawn, "What's Emily's Qi?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

"I wouldn't know, she's never used it against anyone to my knowledge, you'd have to ask Jon." Gabriel said with a clear smile, good one answer he wouldn't find from me.

Reassessing the board Gabriel realized the pickle he was in, never good territory, he needed to even the playing fields a bit so it was a closer game. On the other hand he could always opt to lose more pieces, the game might as well be over though Gabriel wouldn't cop out of a chance at victory there was still hope for it.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Oh? I see," Matrim said. He was hoping Gabriel would know Emily's Qi, but alas Matrim was going to have to figure that one out in the end. But no worries, all in good time. When Gabriel moved his Rook Matrim smiled, he wondered if he should go on the offensive or not. And then he saw it, a perfect opening. A beautiful maneuver if he didn't say so himself, so he moved his rook, but didn't take a piece. Instead, he placed it in a place where normally a pawn could kill it.

But in this situation, a pawn could not kill his piece, simply because if this pawn moved diagonally it would put his King in check, which he could not do.

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[Gabriel Seran]

At first Gabriel was worried by the move it was indeed very threatening but he saw an alternate that would even out the playing fields at least it would in his favor. He glinted a grin, there was more than simply the short game this was going to probably come down to a war of the pawns and if Gabriel played that game against the pillars he certainly had more pawns to throw at the enemy and thus overwhelm them. Like Matrim stated before there would be loses of course though the pawns didn't need to here it what they needed was victory.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

Once again Matrim would find himself going piece for piece, the only way out of this with an even trade being if he gave up a rook to take a rook, putting his king in check and forcing Gabriel to spend a turn getting out of check so that Matrim could get away from the knight. But in the end it was better then losing, so he did it. Taking the rook he thought of another question to ask, but didn't have one on his mind. Not at the moment anyway.

He took a deep breath and made it known, "Guess I'm banking that question for later. Anyway, Check."

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[Gabriel Seran]

tsk tsk Matrim, Gabriel had expected as much. The game he saw and how most people saw was about the war between large demanding pieces, rooks, knights, bishops, and the queen, though when all fell out of favor it was a pawn's game and that was Gabriel's plan at least from here on out he wasn't going to say he planned this down to the very last moment in fact he'd hoped for a swift match with limited blood spilled but things never worked out to plan not in this world.

Gritting his teeth Gabriel made his move, the game was to come down to the last pawn. A bloody end, sacrifices made on each side. Though Matrim's rook would escape Gabriel would be up two power house pieces equally adept in cornering his rook. If he played his pieces right his foe's rook would be cornered and soon the King and the game would be in his favor.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Looks like I'm up by... a single pawn," Matrim said with a smile counting the pieces on the board. They each had a knight and a rook, but Matrim had seven pawns to Gabriel's six. In the end it was way too close of a game. But going piece for piece was something Matrim was comfortable with doing. Especially given the current situation. Matrim moved his rook, "There's a bullet, it's about to be fired at a subordinate. It's not pointed at a definitely fatal area, but the only way to stop the bullet is by taking it yourself, and in this circumstance it would kill you. Do you take the bullet for your subordinate, or do you take the chance that they might live and let them get shot?"

A question is a question right? "That's my question."

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[Gabriel Seran]

"Looks like I'm up by... a single pawn," Gabriel looked over the board with a quick glance, “Better count again, we’re dead even.” Dead being the underlying statement, Gabriel saw the cogs fit together. A piece for a piece and he would be on the offensive deciding the moves he’d play, he still had a question of his own.

“What are the circumstances? What value is there at stake, Is the subordinate an ally or someone who wrought destruction to everything? You need to be more specific…” Gabriel taunted melodramatically.

Moving his piece he didn’t relish the moment this time. “There are still many things you do not realize about me Matrim, sometimes there is nothing you can do, and sometime being the martyr is selfish. In the end what gains would I have to step before that bullet, it’d be just another medal for sacrificing myself thus being selfish and loosing as much respect as I would if I stayed back whilst if I let the bullet stay its course I make a public hero of the victim and press the agenda further. They get rewarded for their sacrifice I get what I want and everyone has the chance at something greater than there was before.”

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"Oh damn you're right... my eyes must be failing me. Guess I'm getting old...." Matrim said, ignoring the kids answer. Within two seconds he found out what he needed to know. And it was because of this that he found this kids weakness, his greatest weakness. Something he wouldn't reveal to the kid at all. But instead play dumb about while knowing the entire time. Strange, he expected more from someone so... self righteous? Was that a correct assumption that this kid automatically assumed he was doing good?

"In any case," Matrim said, making his move. "Your turn."

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[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel took a step back, mentally that was, he didn't see what he was going at now. Matrim moving his knight there was simply suicidal perhaps he just wanted more questions and Gabriel wanted to win so it would be an equal playing field he assumed. The Varsity Captain would gain nothing from questions because actions spoke louder than words. At any rate Gabriel could spoon feed him his life story and it would change absolutely nothing. Dissent was a powerful object to be used and Gabriel worked it to its fullest extent. There were an easy two pieces away from cornering him in the end even if it meant a small sacrifice what was the price to be paid. He simply created a martyr and people loved being the martyr.

"What's the difference between you and I?" yes that was his question

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[Matrim Gallagher]

Damnit, the bastard called my bluff.. I so wanted him to retreat his knight... oh well, this works out better for me this way anywho. Something tells me this will end in stalemate.....

"What's the difference between you and I?" Gabriel asked.

"Currently? You are up by one knight," Matrim said, and then made his move, "Or rather were. Although if you want the truth I'm sure there is plenty difference between us. For one, I would have taken the bullet every time. Not because of some hero complex, but because I refuse to believe that there isn't anything I can overcome. If I'm tough, I can take a bullet for someone I care about, and I will live through it, it's as simple as that."

Used to have armor that made me bulletproof... god I miss that.

"Not to mention that not taking the bullet is the greatest fuck up anyone could make, no matter the consequences. So, what is your mission?"

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[Gabriel Seran]

"My mission? your going to have to be more precise, do I look like a priest to you?

Gabriel wore an eager smile, he wanted to end this foolish game Matrim was just a contradicting man, seemed to Gabriel that he was so sure of everything he did, everything had a purpose or reason but behind it all he was just about a frail as any other student here. Right about now Gabriel held all the cards, though he gave out answers and truths they were only enough to give Matrim the slightest idea as to what was coming. That and of course Gabriel knew the man's weakness, a woman named Reira, if the time called for it Gabriel wouldn't hesitate, if indeed the time called for it.

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"My mission? your going to have to be more precise, do I look like a priest to you?"

"Actually I was going with the soldier version," Matrim said, "What, take out the Pillars? Because I've had to deal with enough idiots who don't see the conundrum in doing that...."

Matrim thought about how ridiculous people like that were. To destroy the pillar system that was set up was simply impossible. You'd have to become strong, and then beat the pillars, making you one. Then you could say 'no more pillars' or something like that. But then of course that only lasted until somebody strong came along. In the end, you just had to cross your fingers that the guy in charge was good, or get strong enough to become the Captain yourself. Then you didn't have to worry about it.

It was as simple as that. He made his move, rather destructive with his style.

"What, you getting tired of this? I would continue to play the game if I only had a pawn and a King on the board. The question is, how much are you willing to lose? How much are you willing to give up, how much of yourself would you put on the line?"

And that was Matrim's question.

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[Gabriel Seran]

"I don't think you get me and its pissing you off isn't it?" Gabriel chuckled lightly finally realizing what the animosity was, "I don't want your bloody title, I don't want a name for myself." Now he was a bit red in the face from the angered words coming out.

"I want to see how this school would fare under a change of the guards, no god damned pillars, A system derived from the people." He tensed up his face making the move quickly without second thought, "they are strong in numbers and strong united yet for some reason they fear you simply because of that title you wear! I want to see how you fare without it."

Gabriel calmed by the time Matirm's question was asked, "I'm willing to lose everything...." He said in a now sorrow filled voice, it was low as if the life had been taken out of him.

"What defines us as good and evil Matrim?"

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[Matrim Gallagher]

"We're all evil," Matrim said. And that was his take on it, "Every last one of us Gabriel, make no mistake. But the argument becomes who is more evil than whom. For instance, are the Pillars more evil than Reapers, is Militia the ones who are evil? Are you more evil then your subordinates or are they equally as evil. Of course, that's just my way of thinking. There are good people, don't get me wrong, but everyone is a little evil sometimes no matter how you figure it. In the end of the day all we can hope for is a little more good than bad."

Matrim made his move. If the game continued, he would win. He had made sure of this with his tactics. As strange as it seemed, Matrim was in it to win.

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