Constant Vigilance 2, Session 14. Friday the 15th, A Classroom. Period 4

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

After everyone filed in and signed in, the Doctor turned on the holoprojector, which projected a large chess board in a peculiar set up.

"Take a few minutes to look at this. It's a puzzle. Black can win in one move. Think hard. Now if anyone thinks they know the move, let me know now."

After talking about the puzzle, the Doctor cleared his throat.

"The reason I point this out is that this puzzle allowed me to trap an ancient evil, an evil from before the dawn of time. It called itself Fenric, known also in Norse mythology as Fenrisulfr, the monstrous wolf that will devour Odin during Ragnarök. Fenric was powerful, able to destroy me without batting an eye."

The Doctor then went on about Fenric at a bit of length.

He grinned.

"So I beat him by being clever, outsmarting him. And using the same principles in the chess puzzle against him, as well as the actual puzzle itself. He was unable to grasp the twist, the complete unpredictability. And here is the lesson you should walk away not only from this class, but the course in general."

"Think differently. Conforming to the mold is all well and good, but being creative, now, that's what makes you an individual. Being quick to think will make you able to overcome all obstacles, and give you a real edge in the world that lies out there. Next week, a boring old written exam. Please keep these concepts I've told you today in mind when you take said boring exam. Now, I open today up to questions, or you just chattering about at your desks. Got it? Fantastic."

[ooc: OCD coming up is up!]

Comments

The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

Got an idea?

[if no one has figured it out by approx 6 pm PST, the Doctor will simply announce the solution]

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[notajar]

Door knows the basics of how to play chess, but it's her father and brother's game, not hers. She stares at the remaining pieces on the board for quite a while, before suggesting, "Black convinces a pigeon to swoop down and take off with the white king?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"I don't see any pigeons around, do you?" the Doctor said. "But good thought. Thinking outside the strict rules, very good."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[notajar]

"He could signal for the pigeon," Door adds, her eyes twinkling. "Or perhaps it's a robot pigeon and he's got a remote control in his pocket." Not that her robot pigeon has a remote control, but somebody's might.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"But still, pigeons are an outside factor," the Doctor said. "The solution comes from the pieces on the board."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[notajar]

Door doesn't stick her tongue out at him. She only thinks about it.

"If the rules don't have to be followed, the player could do anything with the pieces, though, couldn't he? Like jump that bottom pawn forward two spaces instead of one. Or just move the white king into check himself."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Good idea," The Doctor said. "But not the answer I'm looking for. Think simpler. Not something outlandish."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[notajar]

"...so dressing up the remaining pieces in scraps of cloth and having a tea party with them is completely out of the question? ...Not that my sister and I used to do that. At all."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

The Doctor grinned. "That is not out of the picture. I like that solution. It's not the right one, but I like it."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia made a swiping motion of her hand after conferring with Pip.

"The black player could just swipe his hand in one move and clear all the white pieces off the board."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Clever, but not actually winning," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia scowled and thought a moment longer. "Well, does the move have to be made by the black player?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"What are you suggesting, Nadia Santos?" the Doctor asked.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"If the white player were to forfeit, then the game would be over and the black player would win. In one move, that move being the white player forfeiting."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Ah, but forfeiting isn't a move, it's a forfeit," the Doctor said. "Also... rather silly to do, in this case. White obviously has the upper hand, wouldn't you say?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia looked at the problem again. "I have no idea. I've never played chess."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Pity," the Doctor said. "Your type of game, I'd suspect."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Is that Black Pawn one that made it to the 8th square and is now a Queen?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Nope, still a pawn," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Well, I suppose then while the ancient evil is trying to figure out the puzzle you sneak away and come back with something to bop it on the head while it's thinking."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Sadly, the bump on the head option would most likely end in your death," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Is this guy all OCD like most other evil supernatural things you hear about that would actually bother to pay attention to a puzzle rather then just knocking it aside to kill you? Because then it would probably just sit there forever looking at the board."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"He's highly aware of his surroundings, despite his intense concentration on the board," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"So he'll notice is you sneak off?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Quite," the Doctor said.