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WHO: Athos & you!
WHERE: De Chima ( Musketeers Inc. offices ).
WHEN: Early March
WHAT: Discussions of loyalty.
WARNINGS: N/A.

[ The news of the bombing comes sometime in the morning. Athos hears it muttered and whispered over in the training yard, two or three recruits huddled together in the corner wondering about what it all means. But he does not have time to dwell, not when he has men to send out on drills and cases to fulfill and paperwork to steadfastly avoid.

So he lets it simmer until evening, until it is just he and d'Artagnan in the building, finishing up. Athos has clearly been troubled for some time, and he imagines his friend is too. Which is why he finds the brandy and drags his heavy chair around from one side of his office table to the other. The Cardinal ( the dog, not the First Minister ) lifts his head from his bed by the fire and regards them as Athos pours two drinks and hands one to his friend, urging his thoughts away from the paperwork.

It can be done later. ]

Have you heard?

[ There's no question what he means by that. It had stopped being whispered by the end of the day. Now everyone is discussing it. ]

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[ There's no need to question what it is Athos means. The news has been alive with it, all day long. D'Artagnan never pays attention to television, but even he is aware of this - he's heard people talking, seen the headlines on the newspapers.

So many civilians dead, in retribution for Russian acts. The place they'd chosen was not even in Russia. D'Artagnan looks up, and quietly pulls the brandy towards himself. ]

I could hardly help it.

Two weeks, they let the Soviets settle here, while they killed innocents elsewhere. There's no honour in what they do.

[ He throws back a long drink, savouring the taste that hits his tongue. ]

[ Athos takes his seat beside d'Artagnan, his expression falling ever more troubled now he is in the counsel of someone he trusts. ]

They used their own people as a distraction. [ He had not really considered the American government as cowardly before. They had been like the courts, too occupied in image than action. But now he is seeing them in a new and unpleasant light.

He drinks, and runs a tired hand over his brow. ] The men will want to know our opinion. Some of them have lived here all their lives, others not. There already seems to be an unrest among the ranks.

Because the people here support what happened.

[ D'Artagnan says it darkly, while rolling his glass between his fingers. The brandy slides around it. ]

Almost to a man. They're angry enough with what's happened that they think it's deserved.

I'll tell the men civilians have no place in war. Clearly it's not what their own government say.

Soldiering has changed much. Perhaps too much.

[ Athos does not toy with his drink liked d'Artagnan does. Instead he drains the glass in a swift motion, reaching out to refill it almost immediately. ] I do not know if I can continue to serve under such a rule.

[ He is violently opposed to what has happened, so much so that were a member of the US government to have walked through their doors this day he would have challenged them almost immediately.

There was no honour in what happened and it pulls at him. ]

[ That makes d’Artagnan pause, his glass stilling in his hand. With a frown, he lifts his eyes to Athos. ]

What are you saying? You no longer want to fight?

[ The wrongness of that burns through him. The destruction of Debrecen was a terrible thing, an engagement which the Americans pursued while leaving their own people under enemy occupation. He loathes that, and he does not trust the Americans because of it.

But it leaves him all the more determined to protect their people – people who, apparently, will blindly cheer on the government that abandoned them. ]

These people need us, Athos. Now more than ever, with tactics such as these. We cannot just abandon them.

I did not say I would not fight.

[ Athos' voice is strained, his expression slightly concerned. D'Artagnan believing he would give up is strange. He knows, that once, he had tried to walk away. But that had been Pinon, and La Fére, not here.

He looks down into the liquid in his glass, swilling it around for a moment. ] I will not walk away from this. I could not. But I am no longer certain I want to be carry the American's banner any longer. [ His gaze ticks to where his tattoo would be, if he did not always have it covered. ]

[ D'Artagnan takes that in. The drink lies forgotten in his hand, holding a weight that he doesn't even notice. To hear Athos speak this way is a genuine surprise; they have always been soldiers of the law.

The law has never been this far removed from them, however. He wets his lips, not initially sure what he should do. ]

You mean to become a vigilante.

[ He might as well say it. The word licks darkly around his mouth, tasting sour. ]

You know that doing so would make us the enemies, in their eyes. We'd be arrested for trying to help, no matter what good we did. We have never worked under such pretence, Athos.

They could try.

[ It's muttered darkly, as though Athos is still assured of their abilities. ] Would you prefer it that we were to pretend? Or perhaps, forced? [ The US government have skills that he does not know much about. But his kneejerk reaction had been to remove himself. He feels ashamed of the word inscribed upon his wrist the longer he allows it. ]

I promised to protect people. I did not say I would stand aside while innocents are betrayed and lives taken. The people killed were not soldiers, d'Artagnan. They did not ask for it.

I don't support what they've done.

[ He feels the need to say that, to state it. Suddenly restless, d'Artagnan stands, and in so doing becomes aware of the weight of the glass in his hand. He sets it firmly down and then moves, pacing the room. ]

It was wrong, and reckless, and targeted the wrong people. It was a mistake, and the Americans celebrate it. And unless they are shown a better way, they will keep doing this, and we will be powerless to stop them.

[ He pauses, pointing at Athos. ]

We did not turn our backs when Rochefort held the King's ear. We're needed, Athos. They don't listen to the Unsettled. If we become vigilantes, we'll be no better than the Batman. You must know it.

We do not serve a King here. [ He keeps his tone careful and almost gentle. D'Artagnan's anger is still unpredictable. He is young, and struggles with his emotions. But Athos still wishes to speak to him like a man would a comrade and confident. ] There is no right to their rule. They were chosen as a sort of counsel, yes, but they have shown themselves to be the wrong kind.

We cannot reason with these men, we do not even know where to find them most of the time. The imPorts are left to clean up the messes that they make for us, and smile all the while. And I, for one, do not care if they do not listen to me. Because the others will. The ones who have been hurt by this, who have been betrayed. Surely it is they that we serve now.

It is they.

[ On that point, he agrees - serving the people and not the government. He turns to look at Athos. He's still animated, but he doesn't seem angry. ]

But they are ruled by the government here. Being Registered gives us legitimacy. Without that, arresting criminals and rogue imports would be illegal. We'd have no authority to stop them. I couldn't be part of RISE, and without RISE, the Russians would still be here now.

It's exactly because we serve these people that we must be Registered.

I'd like to see anyone try and stop us from doing our duty, regardless of the law.

[ There's a room in the garrison he had thought of turning into a holding cell long before this problem surfaced. But what d'Artagnan is saying is giving him pause. Athos had been reacting on instinct. It is not rare he does so, the situation is right for it.

Innocent people being hurt. His cheek twitches and he takes another, long drink from his glass. ]

It would be a lie we would have to live.

[ D’Artagnan turns to look at Athos, his expression troubled and strained. He doesn’t believe in the government here, but he does believe in RISE. They were the impetus behind the rebellion, and he is certain they have the best interests of the people at heart. Imports need to be united behind a force like that. There’s been too much fracturing already. ]

And we would not be living a lie otherwise?

Athos, we’re men of the law, not vigilantes. The only good I’ve been able to do here has come through RISE. If we take matters into our own hands we’ll be outlaws, and RISE will be coming after us. I can’t be that man. I can’t turn on them when they just helped me save four cities from occupation.

If we want to have any sway over what the Americans do, we must be legitimate. We can’t make them our enemies. Not now.

[ He does not hold his sigh in check. Instead he lets it out, his shoulders dropping wearily. ]

You're right.

[ He wishes he weren't. If only he could find a way that they could be free and be the men they have always been. But no. To be able to protect people the way they want to, they need this. Athos fills his glass with weary resignation and then drains it in one neat swallow. ]

I'll finish up here.

[ Or he'll just stay ... ]

[ D'Artagnan's eyes hold dark wariness. He's not entirely sure where they stand, now; Athos has always been a private man, even though d'Artagnan sees more of him than most. ]

As you say.

[ He hesitates with his hand halfway to the door. ]

You'd prefer to drink alone?

I thought I might make a start on the paperwork.

[ Which means he is definitely of troubled mind. But he has much to mull over and he does not want his friend to see his crisis of faith more than he has to. He should be sure. That is what a Captain would be. ]

Do not worry. I will see you soon.

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