For Honor or Glory

Game

Chapter 23 

It was nearly an hour later, and both Sephiroth and Alex were staring at the chessboard with frowns when a knock interrupted their concentration. Alex jumped slightly, but the general didn't move. She gave him a dirty look for his continued calm that he didn't even notice as she got up to see who it was.

Before she got to the door, Peter poked his head in. He glanced over at the frowning Sephiroth and swallowed before he whispered, "I finished with the specimens and have the report here. I can watch the cameras while you take it to Professor Rayleigh."

Alex took the file from him as she said, "Thanks. Give me just a moment." She then turned back and called out. "Sephiroth, I apologize for the interruption, but I have to run a quick errand. I will be right back to finish our game."

He finally looked up and noticed Peter. His frown disappeared to be replaced by his blank mask as he responded, "Of course. It will be here waiting."

Alex wanted to cringe at the underlying meaning behind his words but managed a grin as she said, "Don't think about moving any of the pieces while I'm gone. I will notice." She then laughed at the look he gave her but didn't give him time to respond. She wanted to get her report turned in quickly so she could get back.

Despite her rush, Alex still stopped before she got to the professor's office and took a few minutes to go through the report. Not that she felt Peter wouldn't do a good job, but it was her future on the line, and she didn't want to take chances. Thankfully, nothing seemed amiss, and all the details she usually added were there. She grinned as she handed the report over.

The professor did not keep her, so it was not long before she returned to the room next to where Sephiroth was to let Peter know he was free to go. He jumped up as soon as she opened the door. "Great, you're back!"

She had to take a step back to keep from being run over as he made a beeline for the door. She gave him a worried look as she asked, "Is everything all right? Did something happen?"

He frantically waved off her concern and still had not stopped walking. "No, of course not. Thanks again. Bye!" He was gone before she could say anything else.

Peter's strange behavior had her worried, so she quickly closed the door to the observation room and headed to the other room to see if something had happened. She walked in to find Sephiroth leaning back against the head of the bed and reading a book.

She gave him a worried look as she approached. "How are you feeling? Is everything all right? Did something happen while I was gone?"

Sephiroth looked up from his book with slight confusion. He folded the page and set it aside as he answered. "Nothing has changed from my earlier answers. Why do you look so concerned?"

She waved absently over her shoulder as she took her seat. "Peter was acting weird. I thought something might have happened."

"Peter?"

The general's confused question finally had her gaze back on his eyes instead of flitting around trying to figure out if he was telling the truth. She sighed as she smiled. "The intern that was here earlier. The one that came in with my file."

"Ah." That was his only response before they both turned back to the chessboard.

Only a few seconds passed before Alex looked up with a raised brow. "You moved my pawn."

Sephiroth's eyes flitted up to lock with hers, but he didn't immediately respond. When he stayed silent, she pointed to the board. "This one here, it was two spaces to the left."