♜♔ Checkmate ♔♜ - RD

Chapter 8 - Trooper no more

°l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l°

"You brought the board," Kaitlyn said, she picked up the worn piece of wood and carefully opened it to examine the smooth pawns.

"I figured it was time, it's been long enough. He would've wanted me to use it anyways."

JB grabbed the queen out of the middle, "Have you had it in your closet this entire time?"

"Yeah," Elle said breathily.

"How have you been?" Ryan said, "You know, with all that going on."

"I'm... moving on. I just didn't realize mom would move on so fast."

Kaitlyn reached across the table to grab her hand, "Everyone moves at different paces, give her some time."

"She took enough time to marry some dude she met on a business trip after four months," Elle huffed.

Ryan chuckled, "I think everyone was surprised by that one."

"I've missed you guys," she said, "You have no idea."

"Things haven't been the same without you Elle, " JB said.

Elle pulled her lips into a tight smile. Just as the group was about to get their food Professor Hart signaled Ryan's communicator.

"What is it professor?"

Jeb pushed past Elle's legs and up to Ryan.

"Skugs were spotted at the industrial site," he said.

"We're on our way," Ryan said.

Elle faltered a bit when she felt the weight of her body being thrown in teleportation. She really missed this the most.

Skugs surrounded them causing the troopers to back up protectively into each other with Jen running off to hide in all the chaos surrounding them.

"Trooper transform!" Ryan yelled. 

Elle instinctively reached for her Virtualizer, holding it up to the sky as the group morphed into VR Troopers.

She was thrilled to be back in action. Every kick, punch, and slash with her weapon gave her more adrenaline to push through the battle. Her and Kaitlyn always tried to stick together in battle, using their similar thinking to outsmart their opponents and take them down with ease. She could see the boys not far off fighting mostly solo. She didn't realize just how much she had missed being in the heat of the battle.

They made quick work, with no monster in sight they were transported back to their home base.

"Professor!" Elle cheered as she walked into the pure white room filled with computers and technology.

"Elle, so glad to have you back," the professor said, "unfortunately I have some bad news."

Kaitlyn frowned, "What bad news professor?"

"I'm afraid with Elle being all the way in Angel Grove her Virtualizer will not work."

"So what does that mean?" JB said.

"With the rise in monster attacks we need a fourth trooper here to help in battles," the professor frowned.

Ryan stared in shock, "So that means-"

"I have to give up my Virtualizer," Elle finished.

"Unfortunately. You all know if there was any other way I would. But we do not have the resources to try and extend power out to Angel Grove."

Elle blinked, hiding her tears behind a small smile, "I understand professor."

She pulled the cord that held her Virtualizer over her head before placing it in JB's hand. Tears welled in her eyes as she said a silent goodbye to the tiny thing that kept her tied to her life in Cross World City.

"Elle," Ryan said softly, "we should get you back."

Elle nodded silently, turning back to the entrance. Jed nudged her hand with his head in an effort to comfort her.

They were transported back to the school and walked out to the parking lot where her brother stood leaning against the Camaro.

"Where have you been?" he asked, his agitation coming out like a cobra.

"With the gang," she said.

He opened the door to his car where Rocky sat waiting, "Well we're late, let's go."

She turned, giving each of the Troopers a tight hug.

"Don't get in too much trouble over there," JB said to try and lighten the mood.

Elle sighed, "Won't be much trouble to get into."
Kaitlyn grabbed her hand, "Hey, we'll still try our best to come see you. Maybe we can still do one of our girls nights."
Elle smiled and squeezed her hand tightly.

"We'll see you soon," Ryan smiled, she felt her heart drop into her stomach as he handed her the trophy she had won earlier that day.

She kneeled down to pet Jeb, "Bye buddy."

She giggled as the dog licked her face.

"Let's go Elle," Tommy said. Kat hit his arm at his harsh tone.

Elle sighed before crawling into the back seat. As the car rode off she waved sadly to her friends until they were far out of sight.

"Are you okay?" Rocky said.

"Hmm?"

He pointed to his cheeks, making her run  fingers over her face to find wet tears falling.

"Oh," she said, "Yeah I'm fine. Just... upset."

"About what?"

"It's hard to explain," Elle said.

He put his arm on the back of the seat, it barely touching her shoulder. Surprisingly it made Elle feel a tiny bit better, "Try me."

"I had to give up something I never thought I had to."

"What was it?" he asked.

"That, Mr. Desantos, is a secret I'm taking to the grave."

He looked at me curiously before I smirked. 

"Alright then," he said, "Wanna go to the juice bar later?"

"I think I'm just gonna head home, I wanna replay some of the matches."

"You and your replays. I'm taking you to the youth center soon and we're gonna see how good you really are at karate," he scoffed.

Elle rolled my eyes. When she looked back up front she saw Tommy watching them carefully in the rear-view mirror. She stared at him directly until he eventually looked away.

Her plan was working, they were getting under his skin. 

Rook blocks king.

—————

Hey besties! Sorry for such a short chapter but I've been working really hard to try and get back into this project and get some updates out for you guys, so I hope you enjoy.

Keep an eye out for my newest project that I've been working on while waiting for my writers block to roll over for this one :)

Don't forget to vote, comment, and add me to your reading list to get updates on Checkmate <3

and as always I hope y'all are safe and happy and may the power protect you!

°l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l° °l||l°