#kraxta

She set the box down in front of him, opening it up to reveal a number of pieces carved in black and white. Setting them on the table between the two, Valadox reached out to inspect them. They were carved in different shapes, some more common than others, but each one had a counterpart of the opposite color.

“What are these, ma’am?” he asked, rolling his digits over a black tower-shaped piece.

“This is an old game, Valadox,” she said, fully opening the box. There was a checkerboard of black and white square on the backside, the playing field of this game, Valadox surmised. “But one that I enjoy. It is a game of logic and thinking. An excellent way to hone one’s mental muscles, and indulge in a little friendly competition.”

Placing the black tower on the board, Valadox watched as Kraxta moved it to her side of the field. “So what is it called?”

“Chess. I hope you will enjoy it.” The black pieces began to assemble on Kraxta’s end, with their white counterparts on Valadox’s.

“What is the point of this activity?”

“I want to see how you think, Valadox. You are very new to the ICI, correct? If you are to work under me, I want to know what I can expect to see.”

“And you would learn that much from a simple game?”

“You would be surprised. And you will find it is not so simple.” She reached forward for one of the black pieces, one of the smallest on the board. “This is the pawn. You have eight of them. They can only move one space at a time, so they are also the weakest piece.”

“Like foot soldiers in battle.”

“If you prefer to think of it that way. But do not dismiss them because they are weak; each piece is invaluable in its own way. It all depends upon how you utilize them.”

“Are you expecting to see if I am willing to sacrifice the weak for the sake of the greater goal?”

“We shall see, won’t we?”

It was a waste of time, decided Valadox as the lesson continued. They were playing a game, and Kraxta thought she would be able to figure him out with it. He’d play her game, but he’d be damned if he let her have her way with it.

The game turned out annoying, with Kraxta’s superior knowledge trumping Valadox’s inexperience at every turn. She was merciless, and it frstrated him.. He’d only captured two of her pawns when she placed her knight with a very final air. “Checkmate.”

Valadox glanced from the board, to Kraxta, and back to the board. “What?”

“Checkmate. Your king has nowhere to go. I am the victor.”

“I don’t-” he glanced back at the board, recalling the last few moves made by both sides. “I fail to see the point of this exercise,” he growled. “You obviously have far more experience than I. What do you hope to learn from such a one-sided affair?”

“That is for me to know,” said Kraxta. Valadox imagined he could see a small smile play upon her lips, and something about it irked him to is very core. He rose to his feet, headed towards the door.

“If you have anything of import for me to attend to, let me know,” he said, slamming the door shut behind him. The glib nature of their interaction was beginning to border on infuriating for Valadox, and try as he might, he couldn’t take his mind off the humiliating defeat, nor from Kraxta’s smirk. So he resolved to remove it.

He had no idea if Kraxta expected him back the following day or not, but it was hard to tell if she felt any emotion at all. “Good day, Valadox,” she said, without looking up from her work. “Can I help you?”

“Are you busy, ma’am? I would hate to interrupt you.”

“Nothing of significance,” she answered, though she continued to write on the sheets before her. “State your inquiry.”

“I was wondering if you might like to play a game.” She looked up at him, and for a moment, Valadox imagined he saw that small smile again.

“I suppose I might have time for a quick game,” she said. He noticed the word “quick,” but their game was anything but. If Kraxta had expected the same outcome as the previous day, she’d find Valadox to be a much more able opponent now. He actually knew how to play the game, and play it well. After a lengthy back and forth, she sat back in her seat, ocular discs twitching as she survey the board.

“I believe it is a draw,” she said, and Valadox noticed an impressed edge to her voice. “You have improved very rapidly, Valadox.”

“I spent most of the previous evening studying chess techniques,” he said, allowing himself a grin. “I would have hated to bore you further after our last game, ma’am.”

“You have changed, Valadox.”

“I have not changed.You are the one who has changed, Kraxta. You have become complacent, you have lost your edge. I pity you.”

“You have lost what little restraint you had. You are unreasonable, and very nearly psychotic. I am surprised they have let you run loose as long as they have.”

“Are you going to attempt to kill me?”

“I have not decided yet.”

“Neither have I.”

The two mechari stared at each other, neither daring to make the first move. Kraxta was lithe and agile, but Valadox had the advantage of size and strength. They both knew the other inside and out, how they felt, how they acted, how they fought, how they thought. If they fought, would there be a winner at all?

At the same time, their eyes went to the chessboard.

“One more game,” said Valadox.

“The last game,” said Kraxta.

The pieces were placed, and the two took their seats. The game began slowly, as it always did, and the two mechari took measure of their opponent’s tactics. Their knowledge of the game was boundless; each match was unpredictable, but they invariably ended the same way. But this time would be different.

“Things would be different if you hadn’t left,” said Valadox, moving one of his pawns.

“You could have come with me,” said Kraxta, moving one of her knights. “You should have.”

“And then what? Would I follow you from job to job? Watching as you taught children, prepared meals, and stood guard for others?” Valadox practically slammed his bishop onto its new square. “I would not have wanted to see how far you’d fallen, Kraxta.”

“You assume it is a downwards trend. It is not necessarily a more positive or negative experience, it is merely... different.” Valadox so rarely showed any emotion; Kraxta knew he must have been even more angry than she thought.

“You’re better than jobs like that. You deserve better.”

“You do not know what I deserve.”

“Together, we could have done so much. Think of what we could have accomplished.”

“We...” That much was true. Kraxta had been forced to leave the ICI, and although she did not mind the opportunity to pursue other employment opportunities, she sometimes felt as though opportunities had been wasted. “...could have done much,” she said, watching as Valadox’s rook took her pawn.

“You left.” Bishop took knight.

“I did not want to.” Pawn took pawn.

“You did not try and dispute it.” Rook took bishop.

“I could not dispute their evaluations.” Knight took queen.

“You let this happen, Kraxta. You had a choice, but you did not bother to make it.” His pieces surrounded hers. Valadox leaned in, voice low. “Checkmate.”

She met his stare without wavering. “You win, Valadox.”

Valadox stood, pushing aside the table and scattering the pieces. “You taught me so much, Kraxta,” he said, standing over her. “You were my mentor, my friend, you were... so much to me. It pains me to see how far you have fallen.”

“I feel the same way. I have lost you, Valadox.”

“No, you haven’t. I’ve outgrown you. I’ve surpassed you.” He reached out for a moment, gently stroking her cheek. Kraxta held onto his hand for a moment, wondering if she had gone wrong somewhere. Or was this inevitable?

“I’m better than you,” said Valadox. He pulled, severing the connection between Kraxta’s head and neck. “But I am sorry that it had to end this way.”

Despite her decapitation, Kraxta’s ocular discs flicked. “Is that all?” she asked.

“No.” Valadox placed his fingers between the seam of Kraxta’s head and crystals, and pulled. To her credit, she did not cry out even once as he tore her face away, separating her gleaming black exanite from the rest of her head. Tossing the twisted metal aside, Valadox cradled the crystal in his arms. “Perhaps I am sentimental,” he murmured, “But despite everything, I feel I cannot bear to lose you entirely.”

I do not work this evening Kraxta

your concern is kind

my gratitude for checking in with me

might we speak sometime outside of the guild

I miss how we used to converse when I was young

without your guidance I have become lost

The black queen was the piece he’d taken from her chess set. She’d always played the black side, and remembering the way she’d wielded that piece sent shivers up his spine. In Valadox’s mind, that piece was quintessentially Kraxta.

She’d left the ICI. She hadn’t even told him until the day before she was discharged, claiming that it was as sudden for her as it was for him. Apparently her superiors noted some odd, paranoid, and at times, macabre behaviors. Perhaps it was the stress of the job, he mused. And perhaps part of Valadox wished he could have followed her, but there was too much for him to do to leave the ICI so soon.

The queen twirled between his fingers as his communicator rang. Valadox answered it without bothering to check the sender, still staring at the chess piece. “This is Equalizer Valadox,” he toned.

"Hello, Valadox."

For a moment, he almost dropped the chess piece. It wasn’t a voice he’d been expecting to hear, and he wasn’t even sure if he really wanted to hear it. She’d had quite the fall from grace before she left the ICI, and towards the end, Valadox was a bit embarrassed to admit he knew her so well.

"Hello, Kraxta," he said, setting the queen down on his desk.

"It’s been some time since we’ve last spoken."

"Far too long, I think."

"Yes, I apologize for not keeping in touch. I’ve been keeping myself quite busy since my discharge; simply trying to find something that occupies my time like the ICI did."

He nodded, tapping the queen. “I hope you are enjoying yourself.”

"I am, though I confess that sometimes I miss the diligence of the ICI. However, I recall their efforts  had been… lacking in recent times." A pause, and then she added "I miss our games as well."

The tapping stopped. “I miss them as well, Kraxta.”

"No one else… challenges me so nicely. I don’t have anyone else to play with who can even put up a challenge."

Valadox leaned back, still eyeing the queen. This one was close, within arm’s reach, but the other one was… so far away. “I feel the same way. I’m beginning to think we may have garnered some kind of reputation; I cannot even find anyone who is willing to play with me.”

"Yes, I’ve attempted to play against a chess-playing AI, as well, but I find it… lacking. They are so painfully dim-witted, Valadox. I am enjoying this time to indulge in my hobbies and new jobs, but I lack the… stimulation you offered. Sometimes I simply find myself bored."

Yes, he felt the same way. Things were just so dull without Kraxta around, even the missions he undertook were only a momentary distraction that caused him to feel even more listless. He missed her, despite the paranoia and perversion that had overtaken her during recent years. Perhaps some time away from the ICI would do her well.

"On the topic of chess, I have a question I’ve been meaning to ask you," said Kraxta. "I seem to have misplaced my black queen. Would you happen to know where it is?"

Sitting on the desk, it chided him. He probably shouldn’t have taken it, but in the moment, it had seemed like the right thing to do. It was something to remember her by, although perhaps it lost a bit of its meaning if she didn’t know about it.

"I’m afraid not, Kraxta. But I will contact you if I locate it."

"I trust that you will." She began to tell Valadox about the jobs she’d held recently and how she’d eventually left all of them for one reason or another, but Valadox said nothing of import. His eyes were fixed on the queen as Kraxta spoke, gaze tracing along the curves and bevels of its shape that reminded him of the last game they had played together. They’d had other things on their minds besides chess, as he recalled.

"I was entertaining the idea of becoming a teacher, Valadox," said Kraxta. "Something with very young children so that I might correctly guide them down the path of a successful life. What do you think?"

He couldn't help but chuckle. "I believe you have a wide variety of talents, Kraxta, but I am uncertain of childcare is one of them."

"Nonsense. You remember the Ford family, don’t you, Valadox?"

"I do," he said evenly. Though he had no idea what they children of that family saw in her. More banalities followed, though Valadox’s heart wasn’t in it. Talking to Kraxta about things like what she’d had for her previous meal or what jobs she was pursuing just felt… wrong. Like he was talking to someone else entirely. Valadox stared at the queen again, remembering the last time the piece had elicited such powerful feelings in him. Watching Kraxta’s skilled hands bear down on his own pieces before he launched a counter-attack, back and forth until they were forced to admit their tie.

Something, some spark had gone out. Valadox wasn’t sure if it was just in Kraxta or if it was the both of them, but, to his disappointment, he found himself... bored.

"Kraxta," he said, cutting her off mid-sentence. "It has been very good hearing from you again, but I'm afraid I have a volume of work that requires me attention. Perhaps we can resume this conversation later."

There was a silence from the other side of the call. "Am I boring you, Valadox?"

"I confess that I have little interest in such... mundane details, Kraxta," he said, reaching out for the queen again. "You do not bore me, but your life is... unexciting."

"Unfortunately, that is what my life is now," said Kraxta, an edge to her voice. "It wasn't something I chose, it was simply something that happened. Had I a choice, things would be much different."

He didn't know how much of a choice she'd had, he hadn't read her final psychological evaluations. Part of him didn't want to, either. "What would be different, Kraxta?"

"You would be here."

"...How unfortunate."

"Quite. Perhaps I shall call you again at a later time, Valadox. When you are less busy."

"I look forward to it."

Their games always went more or less the same. Against other opponents, things would be quick; strategies would be countered, defenses would be dismantled, and spirits would be crushed. Valadox and Kraxta both had reputations as ruthless chess players, so much so that they almost never had challengers. But against each other, things were different. The games dragged on, and sometimes hours would pass before a move was made. And inevitably, it would end in a tie.

The sound of metal against metal resounded through the small room as Kraxta tapped at her chin. Finally, her shoulders rose. “It appears we are at another stalemate,” she said.

Valadox surveyed the board for a moment before nodding. “I believe you are correct.” Irritation flashed across his visage for a moment before he leaned back in his chair. “Once again.”

"Truthfully, I have ceased to keep track of the number of draws we have had, Valadox," she said, collecting the pieces off the board. "I do enjoy the stimulation of competition, but I have begun to wonder if a conclusive outcome is even possible." She placed the pieces into the box, pawn, rook, knight, king. Valadox watched them go, drumming his fingers against the table as his aggravation mounted.

"Am I boring you, Kraxta?"

The disc-shaped eyes on the side of Kraxta’s head twitched as she turned to face her colleague. “Would it concern you if you were?”

"That does not answer my question."

"And that does not answer mine."

Another draw. It wasn’t stubbornness that kept them like this, it was the thrill of the challenge. Neither one of them had anyone else who could or would compete with them like this, and both were cautious not to let down their guard. The drumming continued, and Valadox mused about the connotations of a tie. A draw. A deadlock. There was no progress possible if neither side would budge.

An idea, then. Could one lose in order to win?

Valadox’s antennae twitched. “Yes, it would.”

For a moment, he saw Kraxta’s mouth compress. For a moment, he had disarmed her. It was gone almost instantly, but it had happened. Kraxta leaned forward, lacing her fingers. “You do not bore me, Valadox. I doubt you are capable of such a thing. You enable this job to be… interesting. I enjoy it.”

Finally, he relaxed. “Good. I enjoy it as well.” Both Mechari sat there for several moments, completely silent. Kraxta was the first to ride, bending down to pick up her chess set.

"I shall depart then. Until next time, Valadox." She turned to leave, but he was quicker. Blocking the exit with his large frame, Valadox loomed over Kraxta.

"I am glad you enjoy it, Kraxta," he said, reaching down to take her hand in his. "And I hope you continue to enjoy it. I even hope you enjoy it when I…" He drew in a deep breath, squeezing Kraxta’s demure digits. "Destroy you.”