Title: Advantage To White?
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)
Rating: G
Length: 370 words
Summary: Lucas gets involved in a game of chess

"It was good of you to join me, Mr North.  I take it your presence means that you are prepared to consider my offer after all.”

“Perhaps,” Lucas said as he took the seat opposite Henry Millican. 

“I understand you could not have accepted immediately, but now that you’ve had some time to reflect upon it, you may be more inclined to do so.”

“Yes, there could be advantages, but I’m not yet completely convinced.”

“Do you play chess?”

“Yes!”

“Then shall we play, and I will explain my thoughts as you do so.”  Millican set the pieces out on the board, before asking, “Black or white?”

Lucas gave a sardonic smile.  “I leave that to you to decide.”

“Hmm.  Then I suggest black.  Of course, that leaves me with the advantage of the first move.”

“We shall see.”

“Indeed.  Well, let me explain.  We begin with the king, who we shall call the kernel of our game.  Vital and yet vulnerable.  Our next piece is the queen.  In your case this is Harry Pearce, travelling everywhere, of great significance.”

“Go on, I’m fascinated.”

“The rook, moves in straight lines, honourable, I would say: Adam Carter.  And the bishop, moving diagonally, Ms Myers fits the bill very well.  And the knight, harder to quantify, but maybe working in the background like your Mr Wynn-Jones.”

“Which just leaves?”

“You, Mr North, the pawn.  The one who is easily blocked.  The expendable one.”

“The pawn can still capture pieces.”

“Oh yes, but at what cost?  The pawn has potential, but who is to say which of the pawns will succeed?  Unless, of course, you have suitable backing.  But I would say you have been somewhat distracted; you are most certainly losing at the moment.  Are you ready to change sides?”

At that moment Lucas’ phone buzzed twice in his pocket.  He ignored it, calmly making another three moves, at which point he said, “Checkmate!  And no, I am not ready to change sides.”

Millican glared at him and stood up to leave.

“Your king has been captured,” Lucas said, “and so have you.  While we’ve been playing your pieces have all successfully been arrested.  Sadly, being white gave you no advantage whatsoever.”