The Birth of Chaos: Part 7
“Oranos! It is good to see you!” Reaper was the first to see and greet Oranos upon his return to the hovercraft.
“Thank you. It is good to be back.” Oranos looked happy, and relaxed. This was something which the Guardians had not seen in a long time.
“Are you alright?”
“I feel great! Still discovering who I truly am, but I feel at peace.” Reaper looked confused by his words.
“But I thought they were going to make you better?”
“They did. Sonaro is no more. But…neither is the old Oranos. We are of one mind now. It’s difficult to get used to, but it was for the best.
“I see. Come on, we better go show everyone you’re here!”
“Lead the way. I wouldn’t be surprised if I got lost in this thing now” They both laughed.
*****
“Hi guys. Long time no see.” Everybody looked shocked and startled. This followed by various calls of “Oranos!”
“How are you?” said Apsu.
“Never been better!” said Oranos.
He spent the next hour conversing with various faction mates, learning what had happened in his two month long absence. However, he noticed there were those who were not pleased to see him. Aggie had not spoken to him. Neither had Cognoscente, nor Kratos, and a few others. Oranos would have to deal with this. He walked over to the group.
“Aggie. Can we talk for a moment?”
Aggie barely looked at him. “I suppose.”
They stepped out of the room, and began to walk down the corridors.
“Aggie. Since I came back you have not spoken a word to me and there is definitely a problem. I can sense hostility from you, Cog, and Kratos.”
“What do you expect? You lied to us all.” Oranos had not expected this.
“I was ill! Gray explained everything to you!”
“Yes exactly. You were ill and you were responsible for many of these men. You could have led them to their deaths!” This hurt.
“You know I’m loyal! How can you say that?”
“Look I’m gonna get straight to the point. We’ve been discussing things in your absence. And we think it might be best for you to leave.”
“Who’s we?!”
“A select group of us. We’re only thinking about what’s best for the faction!”
“After all I have done?! I would have died for you guys! I did die for you guys!”
“We’ve made our decision. You are no longer welcome here.”
Oranos felt anger grip him. He grabbed Aggie by the collar and raised his fists. He then realized that this was the Sonaro part of him acting. He did not want to be like this. He let go of Aggie and stormed off. As he walked away he shouted “You’re lucky they fixed me!”
*****
The next day Oranos hovercraft had left the hoverbarge. Many Guardians were alarmed by this. Aggie explained what had gone on, and that Oranos was a danger to them all. The reaction was a mixed one. Some were outraged, but some could see the logic in this. Nevertheless, the argument would be one that would have serious ramifications.
Oranos had left. But he did not plan on disappearing. He contacted those who disagreed with the Guardian’s leadership decisions. He proposed a new faction. Some did not want to listen. But to those that did Oranos started to discuss with them. Soon he had found people who would be perfect to co-lead this new group. Some of them were already leaders of the Guardians, but they had not agreed to the decision to remove him. Oranos proposed to them that they could work together to carve a new future out. They would train new Machine operatives, and help to forge a peaceful co-existence between humanity and the Machines. But they knew the path to this peace would be anything but peaceful. Chaos lay ahead of them. Chaos lied behind them. Chaos is infinite. So they decided they would use that chaos to their advantage.
Not long after, Oranos departure, many others left in their hovercrafts to go join him. Bayamos, Reaper and LexBen helped him salvage an old hoverbarge lying near the Fields. They convinced the Machines to aid them in reparing it, and soon Systematic Chaos was up and running. They knew they would ascend above those before them. Chaos surrounding them, and they accepted it. After all, every path leads to chaos…
