Perfect Sacrifice (37 page)

"It doesn't matter," she said as she sat back up.  "I don't want to talk about this anymore."  Leon only nodded, deciding that it was best to leave the subject alone.  It's not like he enjoyed such a dressing topic in the first place.

Ray began playing with the black queen on the chessboard that Leon and Chris had left out from earlier.  Leon had barely won that game.  She suddenly felt the urge to play.  Before she could ask, it was as if Leon had read her mind.

"Do you want to play?" he asked, watching her roll the black queen back and forth between her index finger and thumb.

"Sure," she said as she set it back down.  Leon quickly got off the couch and moved one of the chairs over to the coffee table.  He sat across from Ray, quickly resetting all of his white pieces.

"Ready?" he asked with a small smile.

"I should warn you," she began, "that I'm no push over."

"I know," was his only reply as they began the game.  He wasn't playing with her because he thought he could win.  He was trying to get her mind off of her nightmare.  This was the only way he could think of right now.  Hopefully it would work.

They were an hour into the game, and each one was making strategic, cautious moves.  Leon was currently taking his turn, and he was taking forever.  It was a little harder playing in the dark with only the moonlight to show the board.  He had been contemplating this one move for about ten minutes now.  Strangely enough, Ray wasn't nagging at him to hurry up.  In fact, she was being incredibly quiet.

Leon finally made his move, still not feeling the best about it, but it was a move nonetheless.

"Okay Ray," he said.  "Your turn."  He received no answer, nor did she reach out to move a piece.  "Ray?" he questioned, finally looked to the couch.  What he saw brought a smile to his face.  She was sound asleep, lying on the couch.  After a stressful and long night, she finally seemed to be at peace.  The fact that she was bathed in moonlight only made her seem all the more serene.

Leon stood up from his chair and began to quietly walk away.  It was time for him to get some sleep too.  If Ray could, there was no reason that he couldn't.

"Goodnight Ray," he whispered as he entered the hallway.  "Sweet dreams."

CHAPTER 19

The Final Three

Ray's eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times to bring them into focus.  She slowly sat up and proceeded to rub at her eyes.  She was still tired, but that was only natural.  It's not like she had gotten much sleep last night.  Then again, she hadn't been expecting to get any.  It's just that Leon had been taking so long with his move.  She had just wanted to shut her eyes for a while.

After stretching and yawning, she stood up and looked around.  The chessboard was still sitting there from last night, the game left unfinished.  She didn't care.  It had been fun anyway.  It was then that she realized that it was only seven in the morning.  The rest of the base wasn't even up yet.  Leon probably wouldn't be for a while, since she had kept him up so late.

"What to do…" she pondered out loud. 
I should probably get dressed.
  She began to head back to her room, trying to think of what to do later.  She didn't want to be at the base all day.  She needed to think of something. 
Perhaps I'll go into Torran.

She walked into her room and made sure to close the door behind her.  In case any of the guys were awake, she didn't need to have any embarrassing mishaps.  It's not like the door would stop Leon though.  He had a bad habit of trying the knob first and knocking later.

She quickly pulled on a pair of black shorts and a red t-shirt.  She grabbed her backpack off of the bed stand and quickly swung it over her shoulders.  Since breakfast wasn't ready yet, she'd just eat in Torran.  Sam always had something for her.

As she walked into the kitchen, she remembered what Dr. Solaris had told her before.  She was to leave a note when she was going out somewhere.  She quickly grabbed some paper and a pen and scribbled down a small note.

"Done," she announced with a smile as she left it on the refrigerator.  In the morning, it tended to get the most attention from the family.  Back when she had first met him, Leon had mentioned that his dad and Chris were the reason he had to go shopping at least once a week.  With that in mind, she checked the cupboards, only to find that they were indeed running out of food.  She went back over and wrote down a few more things on the note before leaving the kitchen.  She had a lot of errands to run now.  Maybe she could get Sam to help…

* * * *

Nine o'clock rolled around, and the members of the Solaris family were making their way to the kitchen.  It was time for Dr. Solaris to start cooking with what little food they had left.  Leon and Chris both sat down at the table, Leon still seeming half asleep.

"What's this?" asked Dr. Solaris as he took Ray's not off of the refrigerator.  Leon and Chris both turned to him, wanting to know what he was talking about.

"What's what?" asked Chris.

"It's a note from Ray," said Dr. Solaris as he began reading it aloud.  "I'm going into Torran for the day, took the car.  I'll be back by dinner.  I noticed that you didn't have any groceries, so I'll do some shopping while I'm there.  P.S, thank you Leon for keeping me company last night.  Sorry I kept you up so late.  Bye."

All eyes shifted to Leon, who seemed just a tad nervous.  He liked being the center of attention but not amongst his family.

"You were up last night?" questioned Chris.

"Just what did the two of you do?" asked Dr. Solaris, quirking an eyebrow.

"We played chess, that's all," said Leon before his dad could imply anything.  He didn't need to be accused of something improper.

"What were you doing up anyway?" asked Chris as he walked to the refrigerator.

"I couldn't sleep," replied Leon with a small shrug.  Dr. Solaris sighed in response as he put the note down.

"I knew I shouldn't have told that story," he said while rubbing his head.  "Just promise me that the two of you won't treat her any different."

"What do you mean?" asked Chris, his hands now full of different food items.

"The last thing Ray wants is sympathy," he explained.  "She's too proud, and she doesn't want anyone feeling sorry for her."  Leon and Chris only nodded, understanding what he meant.  Ray wasn't the type who wanted pity.  She wanted everyone to see her as the ace knight, a warrior who feared nothing, who didn't care about anything.  She had an image to keep up, after all.  Leon wouldn't have a problem with it.  He had never mentioned anything about that one night either.  He knew she didn't want him to.

"So," began Chris as he sat back down.  "What's for breakfast?"  Leon just rolled his eyes at his younger brother, who already had a few selected food items in front of him.

Dr. Solaris just smiled. 
Nothing will change.
  He was sure of it.  Ray would still be seen as the arrogant ace knight that she was…or was pretending to be.

* * * *

Ray walked through the door to Torran's largest hospital.  She had a visit to make, and she knew exactly what door to go to.  She didn't need permission either.  Being the ace knight did have a few perks to it, some she enjoyed more than others.  This was just one of them.

She walked down the hallway, passing nurses and doctors.  There were people in all of the waiting rooms, either just sitting around or waiting for news that could change their lives.  She passed rooms full of doctors, others with just patients.  Hospitals were rather interesting.  They were one place that brought extreme happiness but also the worst sorrows.

She arrived at the door she had been looking for and slowly opened it.  She smiled as she was greeted with the sight of Brian sitting up on his bed.  He was currently watching the television, which only had about five channels, all in black and white.

"Hey Brian," she greeted, instantly drawing his attention.  He gave her a smile, his eyes shining brightly in the sunlight that filtered through his window.

"Hey Ray," he greeted as she walked over to his bed.  He was looking rather well after being shot only a few days ago.  His skin had regained its color, and he just seemed brighter and more vivid.

"I'm glad you're okay," she told him as she sat down next to his bed.  "We were all so worried about you."

"Sorry," he said with a sheepish smile.

"What were you trying to tell me?" she asked curiously.  Brian had to think for a while, but he eventually figured out what she meant.

"Oh that," he said with a smile.  "I just wanted to tell you that I was happy you were alright."  Ray smiled as she rested her arms on his bed.  She placed her head on them, watching him with soft eyes.

"Am I the first guest you've had since you woke up?" she asked, wanting to know if he knew how much had changed in just a few days.

"Yeah," he said rather softly.  "I was a little disappointed that Abby and General Gordan weren't here when I woke up."  Ray's smile fell.  She knew why they hadn't been there.

"So much has happened…" she said out loud, her voice sounding rather distant.

"What do you mean?" he asked, earning her attention.  "What happened?"

"Well," she said while sitting up.  "I no longer live at headquarters."  Brian was indeed shocked, and he seemed even a little disappointed.

"What?  Why not?" he asked rather quickly.

"Ramirez is going after Leon," she explained.  "He needs me right now."  Okay, so she hadn't been helping him much lately.  In fact, it was the other way around.  He was the one helping and comforting her.

"I see," said Brian.  "I suppose it's for the best, right?"

"That's not all though," she said gravely, her voice darkening along with her eyes.  Brian lost the humor in his eyes as he also became rather serious.

"What?" he asked, wanting her to elaborate.

"Ramirez…he's got some kind of new Geno," she explained, wanting to get all the details straight.  "It's larger than any I've seen, plus it can use stealth.  He sent it to Azran, and…"  Her heart clenched as she recalled the memory.  She had seen the news footage, and she had heard the sounds of the second battle.  It had been horrible.  She didn't know how anyone, even Ramirez, could do that to someone.  Then again, the silver haired devil wasn't even piloting it.  Someone else had the same twisted mind that he did.

"What?" questioned Brian, wanting to know what had happened.  By the look on her face, he was dreading the answer.

"He killed them," she said softly, "all of them.  All four knights are gone."  Brian looked like he had just been shot again.  If what Ray was saying was true, which he knew it was, then four of his best friends were gone.  It was like waking up one day to find that you were alone, that everyone had left you.  He had just lost one third of his family.

"You're serious," he whispered, earning him a nod from Ray.  He lowered his head.  "I can see now why Abby and Gordan haven't come to visit me.  They probably have their hands full wit this."

"Yeah…" whispered Ray.  "Hopefully Gordan will have the knights on Trin evacuate before it's too late."  She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as the images resurfaced in her mind.  "It was horrible…having to see that."  Brian didn't say anything.  It's not like he could really offer much.  This was a shock to him.  He had never thought something like this would happen.

"What are we going to do?" he asked, drawing her attention.  "I mean, if the four of them couldn't take it down, then how are we going to win?"

"It's simple," said Ray, deciding that it was time to lighten the mood.  She put on a smile as she stood up.  "You've got me.  I never lose."  Brian just let out a small laugh in response.  Ray was always being arrogant to some extent.  She had bragging rights, though.  Ramirez was the only one who could beat her, and all their battles ended in draws for one reason or another.  So technically she never once lost a battle.

They just sat there for a while, not really having much to say.  Perhaps it was time for small talk.  That always seemed to work.  Besides, Brian wanted to know if she was at least having fun with the Solaris family.  The last he remembered, she was furious with Leon.

"How's everything with the Solaris family?" he asked her, drawing her attention.

"Fine, why?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I thought you were mad at Leon," he said.  "At least you were before I ended up in here."

"Yeah," she said, reclining in the chair.  "But I guess he's not so bad."  She remembered the note she had left for the family and realized that she had written Leon's thank you note on the same paper.  If she had been thinking clearly, she wouldn't have.  She would have just written a separate one for him. 
I hope Dr. Solaris doesn't get the wrong idea.  What did I write again?  I hope he explained the situation to them.

"Ray?" questioned Brian, snapping her out of her small trance.  She just smiled as she stood up.

"Sorry," she said as she stretched her arms.  "I'm just a little tired, that's all."  Brian only nodded, accepting her answer.

Ray began to head for the door.  She would stay all day with him if she could, but she had other errands to run.