Old Friends

P.A. Nightmares

Old Friend

Walking through the doors of Merdocorp. I approached the secretary and asked her to call ahead and let my old friend Murdock know I am on my way up. She did not even bother to look up at me when she spoke.

“Who the hell do you think you are? The CEO is a very busy and important man. He does not have time for the likes of….” She stopped dead in her tracks as she finally looked up.

The look on her face was comical. I mean, I could only imagine what crossed her mind when she saw me standing there. After a few minutes, she composed herself.

“Sir, I am so sorry. We have had so many callers for the CEO’S attention. As of late, he asked me to refuse anyone’s admittance, but I am sure he would not turn you away.” She called up and let him know I was there. Seconds later, the elevator leading to the penthouse suite opened, and I stepped on.

“Oh, and yes, about how you spoke to me earlier. I’ll make sure that Murdock does not hear of it. I would not want you to get in trouble on my behalf.” I gave her a little wink, and I was off.

The elevator took me to the top floor. I exited the elevator and immediately was greeted by two boorish men. Stopping and searching me for weapons. I could hear Murdock call from the other room.

“Can you two buffoons let Lew in, we know he means me no harm.” My friend yells to them. They let me in without further delay. Passing by them and into the office of my friend. I was greeted warmly.

“Lew, how the hell are you, my friend. I dont get to see you much these days.” He said as he got up, walking over to his bar. He poured me a glass of whisky and sat it in front of me.

“Thanks, yeah, it has been too long. I am dying for a game of chess with an opponent that’s not dumber than a child.” We laughed as he sat down at his desk.

“Well, in that case, how about a game,” Murdock said as he pulled out his chessboard.

“You know I am always down. Wanna flip to see who is white and black?”

“No, no, no, my friend, you are my guest. You can be white,” said Murdock

We went about setting our pieces into place. He got the clock out, and we began. I moved my pawn to E4. As I did this, I looked at him.

“You know Murdock. We as higher-ups have a massive responsibility, don't you think?”

“What do you mean, Lew?”

He then moves his piece with a pawn of his own to E5.

“We have power and money. Yet we both started where our workers under us did. This government and country does not care for them. They are as expendable as the pawns in this chess game pawn to F4,” I say as I move my piece.

“Come on, Lew, they have the same chances we did, have the same opportunities for advancement as we did. All they got to do is work hard, and they will be promoted as we did.” He said as he moved his piece from E5 to F4, taking my pawn.

In response to this, I move my Bishop to C4. Ah, the bishop, in a way, they are like the upper-middle-class/ wealthy, huh. Have the freedom to move vast spaces yet stuck in the rut of only moving back and forth in a diagonal line. Sort of like or managers of the building constantly running to and fro with our errands all the time trying to get ahead in their lives.”

“What has gotten into you today, Lew your acting kind of strange.” Murdock inquires to me.

“I dont know, it just seems like nothing ever changes. The rich stay rich, and poor stay poor, and I don't feel like that is how this world is meant to be, do you?”

“Well, I dont know, Lew, but what can we do?”

Next, Murdock moves his Knight to F6.

“Ah, the Knight. Able to move three spaces vertically and one horrozantl. They are useful but also, if used wrong, defeat is guaranteed if used right well; I guess we shall see how it goes,” I say with a grin.

I respond by moving one of my Knights to C3. “Ah, the old White Knight coming to my defense.”

He moves his Bishop to B4, and I counter by moving my pawn to E5. Followed up by Murdok moving a pawn to D5. I respond by moving my bishop to B3. Murdock responds by moving his knight to E4. I then move my knight to F3, followed by Murdock moving his pawn to C6.

“Oh, looks like things are starting to get serious, well time for the big gun; I move my Queen to E2.”

“It does appear so but dont count me out yet, Lew. You know you've never beat me before.”

He said this as he captured my Knight on C3 with his Bishop. I then take his Bishop on C3 with my pawn. Murdock moves his pawn to G5. A few more turns pass by, with both of us appearing evenly matched. Finally, Murdock did something I was not expecting he castled his King.

“My pawn captures your knight. How do you like that? It looks like I just about have this game in the bag.”

“Oh, my old friend, you don't think I would go down without a fight, do you? I move my pawn to C4 taking your bishop.” He said with pride.

“Oh, my friend you have not missed a step, have you. But I move my Queen to E2 and, if I’m not mistaken, is check.”

Murdock moves his Bishop to D6, then I move my pawn over to F7, taking his pawn. Followed by Murdock moving his rook to G8. After about ten more turns, I finally move my Queen into place. I say.

“Queen to F4, I got you in check. It looks like this may be the time I finally beat you. Being the CEO really has made you sloppy, my old friend.”

But he blocks the capture, and we continue our battle of the minds. I get one of my pawns to the other side of the bored turning it into another Queen for myself. After this, it was just a matter of three turns before I beat him.

Finally, after about a 12-minute game, I say,” Checkmate.”

“Good gam….” Murdock started to say but was interrupted with a loud BOOM.

“What the hell was that,” Murdock asked as alarms went off and security personnel went to work. The secretary from earlier came in and apologized for the intrusion.

“Sir, I am so sorry for the interruption, but I. It felt you needed to know that the mech factory was just attacked.” She said in a panicked tone.

“What do you mean attacked? And by whom?” Murdock barked.

“I dont know, sir. All I know is that a group of individuals numbering ten to twenty stong were seen entering the building roughly thirty minutes ago. And moments before the explosion, cameras show them piloting the mech we had built out. They the factory blew.

“Thank you, Cassandra. You are dismissed ill call for you when I am ready to start damage control.” Murdock waved a hand at her letting her know that the conversation was both over and she was to leave now.

She left, and I just sat there calmly with my legs crossed and a smile on my face. Murdock finally noticed this. He looked at me, shocked.

“What the hell are you smiling at, Leu. Dont you understand the implications of this attack. Traitors to the government are now in possession of weapons to start a full-blown war.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly what just happened, Murdock, more than you know. The game we just played the whole time, I was instructing my soldiers on what to do. When to act and told them how to reprogram and operate the mechs, this is all my play.” I laughed as I pulled a gun out on him.

“Leu, how could you? We are friends, aren’t we? How could you betray me like this?”

“Oh, come now, my friend, you dont think I am just going to shoot you do you? If I wanted you dead, I would have had my friends take care of you while they were doing the other job. No, no, no, I am here because I want you to join me. Help me bring this government down. And create a new shining world, one where everyone is created equal. One where people dont starve and die needlessly. Too long have we been under the thumb of assholes that cares nothing for us. We do what they want or die. This is no way to live. Please, my friend, join me. I dont want to kill you, but I can’t have you exposing me either.”

Murdock looked dumbfounded as he took it all in. Then he finally spoke. Slowly at first but then his whit returned.

“So you are telling me you did this. And that you want me to join you. But what I dont get is why. Would it not be easier to kill me. Leaving no loss ends behind. And how can you be sure I will not betray you and that my loyalty is not with the government that has given me everything?”

“All good questions, and the answer to them all is friendship. You and me have been through it all, Murdock. We have been friends since we were kids. I trust you more then anyone, so what do you say, brother, we are in this together?” I say as I lower the gun.

At first, I think he is going to attack me. But then he shocked me. “You know what man. You made a compelling argument we may very well die. But you are right something has to change.”,

“Snipers stand down. Bing me my ride.” I say as The wall to the building was torn off, and a mech hovered there. I stepped aboard it. I looked at my old friend and said, “we got a war to start.” I grasped his hand and pulled him up onto the mech.