Hacking the Sun [Old Version]

Intermission

Tension. Writhing tension filled the space between the four of them. Jessica looked to Valerie, Valerie looked to Shannon, Shannon looked to Beth, and Beth looked to Jessica, their faces illuminated by a dim ceiling lamp in the center of the room. The drive of war lessened their usual amelioration towards one another, replacing it with competitive fuel. But who would move against who next? This was the question pricking their anxiety, elevating every additional ounce of animosity to be mustered. The next cascade of events would be determined by Beth.

Jessica leered in all directions, debating which of her so-called friends would be next to betray her. Caressing the red tie of her school uniform, she pondered, considered, then wrapped the slim cloth around her hands in anticipation of punching someone. Her eyes glared left.

There was Valerie, with the nerve to grin after all she had done in such a short span of time. With her black mascara, dark eyes flashing the fires of Hell's ninth ring, her hands rested ponderously on her denim pants, occasionally moving to fix the laces of her leather corset. That Jo Jett style hair was hiding sinister intent deep inside the Mexican brain.

But then her gaze zoomed across to Shannon, a girl who wanted to prove something... with those pink yoga pants and that slim t-shirt. If her brain was prone to as much fitness as her body, she would easily make a worthy opponent. Combined with a perfect poker face, it was a deadly combination. Jessica would, nevertheless, have to wait and see.

Beth. She could tell when Beth was trying to fool someone. All she had to do was act old. Sure she was old, but she never acted old. So when her old friend grinned and said, "I fancy myself a noob in this scenario," she knew right away that the old woman was sputtering bullshit of the highest degree. Catching her, on the other hand, that was a different task. The old lady was trying to be cute by wearing the RWBY  t-shirt she bought her months back, a sentimental attempt to bring Jessica's guard down – The shirt emblazoned the 'Ice Queen's' silhouette below the old lady's wrinkly grin. Appropriate, considering the act was ice cold.

Between and equidistant to them, on the rosewood table of four chairs, lay a holographic display of Chinese Checkers. Madness. Pure madness. 

Marbles were scattered across the board. Valerie had the least amount of marbles in play, but Jessica looked to Shannon's lines that were scattered in two different directions, while Beth's and her own pieces rested on the verge of crossing each other. The old lady could attack Shannon, a move that would grant Valerie the upper hand over at least one person. Since Jessica had the most pieces, she would settle for her losing a few. Suddenly, to the rush of everyone's blood circulation, Beth began her move.

It was swift; it was precise; it was ruthless. In one maneuver, her marbles dispatched piece after piece from all three sides. No one understood why or how such a coordinated attack could happen. But Jessica knew. She knew all along. It's why she arranged her pieces to cushion the extent of destruction to her side.

"Hija de puta!" exclaimed Valerie, on the verge of flipping the table.

"Hey! Hey!" calmed Shannon. "It's just a game!" —turning to Beth—"You done fucked up, though."

Beth reservedly withdrew, lifting her hands in guilty surrender. "It seems I have taken you two by surprise. Although it's all in good fun, I did not mean to upset you with my playstyle. Beginner's luck, I guess." Then, when her gaze drifted to Jessica, she noticed the school girl leering at her with competitive animosity. "Something wrong, Jess?"

But Jessica's eyes shot her with eyes like to a scorned cat, squinting at the old woman's smile. "I see right through you," she said sourly. "I'm coming at you like Rohan at Pelennor, old lady!"