"When I'm from, originally, the idea of actual first-hand experience of anything is frighteningly retro. The Legion shocked the world by taking kids off the underage monitoring system and gathering together in a park to hang out. And that was just on Earth," Bart said, a little fondly. "So some things...well, the universe is a crazy place. Even in the far future."

For the most part, Bart ignored Toly's defensive moves, never committing to a move that couldn't branch in unexpected directions. He didn't just pin a piece, he used the pin to lever a fork and open squares to his control. His game wasn't traditional, and appeared to be just as scatter-brained as the player, darting from move to move with no apparent reason.