For this rule, the following definition applies: the Fourplay Board
is "odd" if and only if both the number of rows is odd and the number of
columns is odd.
As soon as the Fourplay Board is odd, the Neutron is placed upon its
center-most square. If, at any time in the Game, the Board is changed
from odd to not-odd, then the Neutron is immediately removed from the
Board. If, at any time in the Game, the Board is changed from not-odd
to odd, the Neutron is immediately placed on the center-square (if the
center-square is occupied at this time, the Piece occupying it is
destroyed), and all the Rules of the Neutron apply to the Game.
There is an entity on the board called The Neutron. The Neutron is not owned by any Office, and it can only be moved according to the Rules. The Neutron cannot be captured or destroyed. For playing purposes, the Neutron is considered a neutral piece - that is, Pieces that cannot move over other Pieces cannot move over the Neutron either, etc.
When it is a Player's turn to move the Neutron, he may move it any single direction that he wishes. The Player must move the Neutron in the chosen direction through all unoccupied squares until it reaches an occupied square or the edge of the Board, in which case it stops at the last unoccupied square. The Neutron can not stop any sooner.
When the Neutron's destination square is (in the lowest numbered row or the highest numbered row or the lowest lettered column or the highest lettered column) and (it a square that is part of a quadrant), then the Neutron is 'caught' by the Player to whom that quadrant is assigned, regardless of whomever moved it there. The Player who 'caught' the Neutron is then given one Neutron Gem, and the Neutron is returned to the center-most square, destroying any Piece that occupies that square (unless the Board is no longer odd, in which case the Neutron is removed from the Board until the Board becomes odd again) before the next Player's turn. It is illegal to move the Neutron directly from the center square to a square on the corner of the Board.
If a Player moves a Piece so that the Neutron can not be moved on the next Player's turn - that is, all squares adjacent to the Neutron are occupied, then the Player moving the Piece has 'caught' the Neutron. That Player receieves one Neutron Gem, and the Neutron is returned to the center-most square, destroying any Piece that occupies that square (unless the Board is no longer odd, in which case the Neutron is removed from the Board until the Board becomes odd again) before the next Player's turn.
The Neutron appears as a glowing churning sphere that floats slightly above the Fourplay Board. It changes color periodically, shifting through red, orange, green, white, purple, and blue.
The Neutron Gem is worth 1 F$ - that is, any Neutron Gem owned by a Player can be converted by that Player to one Fourplay Dollar.
Neutron Gems can not be used for any other purposes besides those described in the Rules.