A Matrix of Fate

"Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony." - Laurence Fishburne, 1999 (Morpheus, in The Matrix)

A groundbreaking film that has directly inspired the directorial efforts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Matrix still continues to impact lives today with its discussions of free will and fate, and how the two are intertwined across the ripples of time, if such a concept even exists. Fate can be devastatingly true, yet has a funny way of working to impact one's life and psyche.

However, fate is inevitable, and allows one's self to surrender to the reality that time is always in the now. We experience today, yet there are lessons from the past that push us towards the future. So we must be better, learn from the mistakes of our past, and have a clear vision to the future of what we believe we are meant to do.

I will be taking you on a theoretical journey of how I believe fate is resourceful, by implementing a few Marvel heroes into the Matrix, and how I would perceive them to navigate the false reality of the Matrix as themselves. All rights are reserved to the original creators for each created film universe. I write merely as a fan of both Marvel and the Matrix, and respect the individuals responsible in creating these films. So, let's begin by dealing the cards out, shall we?

On a new iteration of the Matrix, one where superheroes are rare, Remy LeBeau, also known by the hero name of Gambit, is the Architect that constructs reality. He inherits the control over it due to his noble passing in a different reality, one where he protected others to his dying breath. Gambit, however, believes in the luck of the cards, and uses tarot cards to introduce things at random, instead of following a set of rules for creation and maintenance in the Matrix. He resides in his chair, never leaving despite having the free will to just get up and leave. He believes it is his duty, his responsibility, to stay planted in his seat, to ensure the safety of all beings in the Matrix, whether they are a program or not.

He handles his cards with grace, shuffling them swiftly and smoothly, allowing the cards to dance themselves around his dextrous fingers. A card falls out:

"The Fool. New beginnings, spontaneity, embrace of the unknown," LeBeau speaks aloud to himself. The card glows with purple phosphenes, reminiscent of his power.

On the screen before him, a young girl starts to glimmer in the same shade as the card had, activating her dormant abilities, hidden deep in her DNA.

"This must be Squirrel Girl, the poor lass," LeBeau relents. "I wish you luck on your journey through the Matrix, you're going to need it."

The cards continue to slide around, a myriad of flourish behind every movement he makes. He performs varied types of shuffles, his hands working eloquently. "Who shall be the first person you encounter?" Remy asks as he pulls the top card and lays it face-up next to The Fool.

"The Devil. Temptation and addiction, but also passion and transformation." A solid follow up to The Fool, the story of this Matrix being constructed is well on its way to be impactful to the inhabitants, and those being directly affected.

"Without a doubt, this must be Ghost Rider. What will you do when you find him, Squirrel Girl? The choice is up to you." The screen flicks over to a man, a daredevil of sorts, just about to die while performing a stunt, as his powers awaken. He continues prancing the tarot cards around, looking for one more card to draw.

"Finally, The Hermit. Introspection, yet also isolation. Full of wisdom, as well as self-doubt. Without a doubt, this would be Dr. Stephen Strange. Have fun with these two opposites," LeBeau chuckles, as the screen changes once more, to a doctor performing a surgery. His hands glimmer in the same color, as the screen then turns off.

"There we have it, Squirrel Girl, Ghost Rider, and Doctor Strange, the first few to have their powers awakened in this Matrix. One even with the blessing to help awaken others' powers unknowingly as they walk through life.

{View shifts onto the now blank screen, before flipping back on to show the world from Squirrel Girl's point of view}

"Countless squirrels were running around me, even talking to me trying to warn me of some of the dangers that are around me every day. I brushed it off, but then, a man showed up," Dorene Allene Green explained to her friend. "It was a man dressed as a doctor, but he also had a red cloak draped down his back. He appeared to be floating, and did a gesture with his hands towards me. It seemed like a spell of sorts."

Dorene shuddered at the thought of the next nightmarish scene of her dream. "Then another man, I think, showed up. He didn't have a face like us, it was just a skeleton head. He glared at me, as if he had intent to harm me. I could feel this pain inside me, but it didn't feel like my own. I'm not really afraid of anything, but I feared *something* when he glared at me. Do you think it's the second man's fear inflicted upon myself? Or is it my own? I don't know.."

Her friend then morphs into a bizarre creature, something that Dorene couldn't begin to comprehend, before her friend lunges at her. Then suddenly, darkness fills Dorene's vision.

"AHHHH!!" Dorene awakes from this second layer of dreams, and is now in the supposed "real" world.

"What the heck are these dreams? What are they supposed to mean?" She lets out a weary sigh, already ready to go back to sleep, but her mind is running a million miles per minute. "Those dreams felt so real.. But now here I am, awake, yet unsure of how to tell if this is real or not.. Can somebody, somewhere out there, help me?!"

It's not long after this, that sparks form in the air, slowly creating a ring of these sparks as Doctor Strange floats through. "My name is Doctor Stephen Strange, and I need you to come with me, IMMEDIATELY. You are in danger, from outside forces, and from your own mind. I put a spell on you to protect you in a different reality, and it has managed to seep onto you in this reality, as well. However, everything is not what it seems, and there could be dangers that even I can't help you with. Our lives are linked, somehow, and I don't know why."

Dorene sits still, mouth agape in shock of how things have happened so quickly. "I uhh.. How do I know I can trust you?" She asks quietly, and confused, unsure of what is real or not.

Doctor Strange smirks and gives her a wink from his right eye. "I suppose that's up to you. I merely want to help, and make sure nothing happens to you." Strange then looks directly into her eyes, but sees straight through them to speak beyond Dorene. "So, will you provide me the opportunity to be helpful? Fate is resourceful, but sometimes, you need to twist it yourself."

The screen in the architect's room clicks off, before Gambit looks into one of the cameras in the office. "Well, I guess this is my luck, isn't it?" He winks with his right eye, as the room around him dissolves into nothingness. Just as he slowly starts to fade as well, he says to the camera, "Your move Marvel. What do you plan to do next?”