And the machines said, “Let there be light”.  And there was light, and the sun, moon and stars had purpose.  But not all was good.

In the time called Paradise, the constellations of stars were separate programs.  However, they were not without faults, and began to jostle for more prominent positions in the sky.  The System decided a radical change was needed before a full-on war broke out, and, with the creation of the second Simulation, attempted to delete all constellation programs, replacing them with a single program to govern the night sky.

It started with very small changes.  The constellation of Draco extended, creating another two stars to add to his already substantial length.  The red star Aldebaran of Taurus shone brighter than Sirius of Canis Major for a time.  Leo created a cluster of small stars to become a mane.  Orion stretched taller.

The competition escalated, until a constellation named Phoenix took it upon himself to control the arguments.  His attempt was a success in that he cowed the others into submission by improving himself drastically, forming the perfect shape of a phoenix, the bird of fire, in the night sky.  The new constellation of flaming red stars put the sketchy shapes of the others to shame.

For a time, there was peace.

It was not long before dissent returned to the Heavens.  Lead by a pair of constellations, a group of programs banded together against the beautiful Phoenix, jealous of his graceful shape, and together they were able to physically eject him from the skies.    The program's self image was distorted as he was repulsed, and his once proud flame-coloured wings were ripped from his back and remained in the sky as a much more subdued group of stars.  The Phoenix fell, never to fly again.  The constellations watched and henceforth referred to him as Wingless.  Only two were sorry he had gone: the ever-watchful Virgo and her companion, Libra.

This was the last straw for the System.  Not much longer had passed before the new Night-Sky program was completed, and the constellations scheduled for deletion.  As soon as word reached the programs, panic ensued, and the constellation of Cygnus was persuaded to seek out Wingless in the form of a swan for advice. 

It was not Wingless he found, but an older, more experienced program named the Merovingian.  He promised a safe haven for the Exiled constellations, as long as they in return swore to come to him as soon as they were informed of their uselessness.    He had heard of the near war that had happened, and was intrigued to see how the stars would work for him.  After all, he had the first Fallen One in his employment, and that had been an enormous success, beyond his expectations.  Cygnus returned with the news, and the constellations agreed to seek the Merovingian.

With the introduction of the One-Sky program, so too came the second Matrix.  Instead of the Paradise, whose failure had taken a chunk out of the new crops of humans, another world was designed to replace it.  This Earth has one government; one currency; one language.  The other languages still exist, but by law all children are to learn Standard.  Currency is credits: pure and simple.

The Exodus of the Heavens took place smoothly, but the stars' plan did not go well.  The System managed to round up the majority of the eighty-eight constellation programs, for there were few true Exiles at this time.  Those who were caught returned dutifully to the Source.  Only a handful of constellations survived, namely the original programs who expelled the Phoenix: Gemini, Leo, Lupus, Orion, Draco, Taurus, Cygnus, and Canis Major and Minor.  The Nine Fallen Ones went directly to the Merovingian.  Three others chose to break the promise Cygnus had made for them and wander: Sagittarius, Scorpius and Aries.  Another two, Libra and Lynx, became separated from the main body of stars as they fell, and were lost from view.  The beautiful Virgo, deeply troubled by the idea of returning to the Source, followed the Nine to the Merovingian.

The former stars took new names, to go with their new identities and images.  The Merovingian was pleased beyond belief with his new employees, and especially pleased with the soft-spoken Virgo, whom he married.  She took the new name of Persephone.  The old rivalries still existed between the constellations, and united under one command, there were significantly less full on fights and a sharp increase in petty bickering. 

Wingless' nickname stuck, for he too had found work with the Merovingian and had become his favourite assassin, as well as official settler of debates.  The other programs found a great respect for the fallen one, for he had beaten them into submission on numerous occasions when they would not let an argument drop.  Nobody had ever seen him openly angry, but the fire that flew with his punches betrayed a quiet fury kept hidden. 

Thus the first true Exiles came.  And, for a time, it was good.

Current Location: my bed
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Star Hunter - Sailor Stars musical
Tags: fanfic, the matrix, time of the turning