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

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!]

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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?"

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

"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.

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

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."

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

"...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."

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

"Though perhaps as it's both kings left on the board, they might prefer not to attend a tea party." Door nods. "They could kiss, instead! And the pawns could take pictures!"

...

"That's... an option. I suppose."

"Well, it worked on the trolls. For a bit, anyhow."

"Good to know," the Doctor said.

"It was prettier when King Peter and my roommate did it, though."

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

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