Anarchy Unlimited

Chapter 2

The space liner that carried Tank, Matt and the other crew gently orbits the now desert planet. On board, Only Tank, Matt and Viper survive. The fourth and fifth privates appeared to have been vaporized.

The three wearily look at each other. Matt stares to the ground in silent thought of his lost comrades, Viper grinds his teeth in agitation, whilst Tank sits calmly with a guilty look on his face.

Tank : "It was my fault."

Viper : "The hell it was."

Tank : "I was in charge."

Matt : "So what? Like we knew what was waiting for us."

Tank : "But I lost TWO men!"

Matt : "And you saved two others."

Viper : "Get over it man, we're still here!"

Tank is suddenly filled with rage, he springs up grabbing Viper by the neck

Tank : "THE HELL I WILL!! I LOST TWO FUCKIN MEN DOWN THERE...THAT MEANS ALOT TO ME. I LOST ENOUGH MEN DURING THE WAR, I VOWED NEVER TO DO IT AGAIN!"

Matt jumps up and grabs Tanks huge arms to try and free Viper.

Matt : "Tank! Let him go, it's not his fault!

Viper begins to choke.

Matt : "Let him go Tank!"

Tanks face is creased in anger

Tank : "No....more.....deaths....."

Suddenly Viper disappears from Tanks grip and vanishes into thin air. He reappears a few meters away, choking and gagging for air.

Tank : "What the fu....?"

A Voice : "Gentlemen."

Both Matt and Tank look behind them. Atropos stands with arms folded gazing straight through them.

Atropos : "Dissention in the ranks Major?"

Tank looks dumbfounded, almost gobsmacked.

Atropos : "Major!"

Tank shakes his head, as if to clear his head.

Tank : "Atropos. I, uh, lost it there for a while."

Atropos : "Lost it? Looked like you were about to kill the man."

Tank : "I just can't bear to lose any more Ats."

Atropos : "Understood."

Viper regains his posture and Matt stands by looking anxiously toward Atropos. Unlike Tank, Matt was not raised with Atropos being nearby. Matt was raised near the war, when Atropos was mainly away in negotiation, or on missions. Atropos was somewhat of a legend to Matt, who'd only really known him through the council or of his Fathers kind words. Tank had grown up with Atropos being around, almost like an uncle to him. But to Tank, this was a long time ago now. Tank had grown up, become a Major, fought in the wars. In that time, he'd watched 'Uncle Atropos' become 'Atropos' and now 'Atropos of the order of the Moirai'. It was almost like seeing a ghost from the past for Tank. An older man now stood where his Uncle used to stand and Tank didn't like it. So not just for Matt alone, Atropos seemed like a stranger to Tank also.

Despite all that though, he had a damn fine knack of showing up at the right time.

The four stood in silence. Atropos surveyed each one carefully. He finally spoke;

Atropos : "Major, send a message to the Board of Counselors telling them what has happened here. Send it priority one. Turn the ship around and head back to Earth."

Tank : *Annoyed* "With respect Atropos, I am the C.O. here."

Atropos : *Forcefully* "And I just saved your ass Tank. Get out of this area. Come back with reinforcements. There's more going on here than you realise, let your father make the choice."

Tank sighs in resignation and walks out of the room.

Atropos looks to Matt.

Atropos : "Matthew. Walk with me for a while."

Matthew looks to Viper who shrugs his shoulders. Atropos signals toward the doorway. Matt walks out with him.

Matt wondered whether Atropos could sense the awe in him. He almost feared  Atropos. Although Atropos had no actual military rank and was only on the council as a representative of the Moirai, he commanded alot of respect. Atropos was completely opposed to the union with Massacre and had stayed well out of the way since the Board was formed. Atropos spoke quietly, often with his father and mother. He was a kind of 'right-hand-man' for Anarchy. It was rumoured amongst the military that Atropos was some kind of independent intelligence unit, operating exclusively for Anarchy. Yet the two had often publically been seen in disagreement. Especially since the arrival of Massacre. Matt didn't know what to think, but he knew this was the first time Atropos had asked him to 'walk'. Perhaps Atropos was going to assassinate him, then kill all the others.

Atropos : "Matthew? Matt..."

Matt : "Yes Sir."

Atropos : "I have no rank, you don't need to call me 'Sir'."

Matt : "Sorry, uh, Atropos."

Atropos : "No apology necessary."

Atropos almost sensed the fear within him.

Atropos : "There's no need to be afraid Matt. I'm not going to assassinate you!"

Matt : "That's a relief. I think."

Atropos *laughs*:"I guess there's too many stories floating around yea?"

Matt *smiles* : "I guess so."

Atropos : "Matt, what do you know of the Moirai?"

Matt : "Not too much. You're one of them. They are an ancient race of nomads, they have various powers, they're kinda religious, they have followers. That's all I know.

Atropos : "What I expected. Matt, did you know that I am the first Human Moirai?"

Matt : "Really? So, how is that?"

Atropos : "They are alien. But they share the same form as us. I was merely trained as one of them from birth. Through their teachings, I gained their power. You see, they had to train a human, because they were becoming extinct...couldn't breed you see."

Matt : "Didn't know that. So why have they only trained one of you.?"

Atropos looked puzzled for a while.

Atropos : "Who knows. Perhaps they never intended to train me, it was just the will of the Moirai. Matt, do you believe in the New Age.?"

Matt : "Well, yea. We have peace?"

Atropos : "But at what price Matt? We now habour the evil we tried to eradicate."

Matt : "You have to compromise somewhere."

Atropos : "No. I disagree. He will turn you know. Massacre. When he does this time, we could have a whole shitstorm to deal with."

Matt : "How so?"

Atropos didn't answer, he pondered to himself.

Atropos : "Matt, it is the way of the Moirai to have three heads of the order. Each one is named so; Clotho, the giver of life, Lachesis, the weaver of life and Atropos, who cuts the thread of life. Each of the heads used to have his or hers own personal chapter within the order. These were like disciples. That has all but gone now. The Moirai fight for survival."

Matt : "So how many are there now?"

Atropos : "Three. Myself, Lachesis and Clotho. They are old. They will die soon. I will die one day. Before each head of order dies, he trains his replacement or selects someone from his chapter to continue. Matt, I have no chapter, I have no son and am not married. No-one to replace Atropos."

Matt : "So what are you going to do?"

Atropos : "There is a prophecy that a new Moirai leader, not of Moirai blood would rise up and begin a new great dynasty of the Moirai. These would be strong and powerful. Matt, 99% of the Moirai teachings have become true."

Matt : "And you think you're this, man?"

Atropos : "I never said that. Something is on the cards Matt, something is on your cards Matt. It's good to have peace, but at such a high price? I'd think about the future and who's going to be doing what. You think this Status Quo is going to last with Massacre? Circumstance let us win last time."

Matt : "That's not true"

Atropos : "But it is. I was there. Massacre will rise up again and it's going to take something more powerful to defeat him finally. Something stronger. Remember that he is evil. Remember that and remember this;

 'Fight Fire With Fire.'

 Remember that Matt."

 Matt pondered over the words.

 Matt : "I see the truth of it."

 Atropos smiled

 Atropos : "Good, good. There is much I could teach you, if you wanted. Think on it. I will be around."

An intercom suddenly buzzed. A voice comes through

Tank : "All personnel, this is Major Tank. We have been directed to return to Earth by the Board of Counselors. Changing course immediately. Mr Atropos, please report to me to determine whether you wish to depart."

As The voice ends, Matt has been listening so intently, he has not noticed that Atropos has gone. Realizing this, he slumps against a wall.

Matt : "Fight fire with fire" he mutters to himself.....

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