Disclaim: I do not own Tron or any of the movies, games and series associated to it.
So. Here I am. Fighting Clu, the most evil and deranged program I've ever met, trying to hold him off to protect two Users and two ISOs. How did I ended up here?, you might wonder. Well, the story is a bit complicated and starts many, many cycles ago. But if you want to know what happened, here it is. This is my story.
I still remember my first impressions of Argon City. A huge city, bright and beautiful. I got there in my search for my friend Koru, but I'd promised myself that it would be the last stop. If I didn't find anything in Argon, I wouldn't keep looking for him. So I entered the city, divided between two hopes, one acknowledged and the other not. The first was obviously the one that I'd find Koru, but the second was completely the opposite. I was already too tired of traveling all around The Grid searching for Koru, too tired of not belonging anywhere. My first stop in Argon was the obvious one: a night club. That was the best spot to gather data and also find a place where I could get employment. It didn't take long to find a good place to start, but unfortunately it took even less time for me to get in trouble. I've always been kind of a an impulsive program, and I get offended rather easily. So, short vesion: these two programs approached me and started to tease me and, next thing I know, I'm punching them in the face. Sort of. The whole thing actually ended with the guys on the floor after a series of hits that probably no one managed to see. To make them justice, they did tried to fight back, but they stood no chance against me. Even though I worked as a mechanic, I was programed to fight. I was a soldier. An old fashioned, hard trained soldier. But, with everything, it probably wasn't my best introduction card. I got out of the club rather angry and still wanting to punch something, only to find a program leaning next to the door, obviously waiting for me.
-That was pretty impressive what you did back there.- he said as a greeting.
-Thanks.- my answer was stiff and I didn't stop walking.
He just laughed and started to walk next to me.
-I take it your not the most sociable program, am I right?
-Pretty much, yeah.
I looked at him thoroughly, searching for any signs of hostility. As he didn't seem to have bad intentions, I allowed myself to relax a little bit.
-Are you going anywhere in particular?- he asked.
-Not really. It's my first time in Argon.
-You know, I could show around if you want to.
My first reaction was to say no, I mean, I didn't even knew the guy; but then I thought, why not? After all, I didn't know Argon at all and a little bit of tourism wouldn't hurt.
-I'd really like that, thanks.-
-Cool. I'm Bodhi, by the way.
-Ramee.- I answered with a smile as I shook the hand he was offering.
Bodhi was the first friend I made after Koru's disappearance and he turned out to be a pretty good one. The cycle we met, he showed me almost every part of Argon worth seeing and he even recommended to go to the garage where he worked to find a job. When we split up, I found myself smiling for the first time in many cycles. I decided to follow his advice and at the start of the next cycle I showed myself at the garage. Before going in, I checked my appearance in a nearby glass. The reflection I saw was the usual me; tall, really pale skin, blue circuits and short dark red hair, something I haven't seen in another program to the day. The closest color I've seen in someone else's hair is orange. I tried to flatten my hair with my hand, but it remained as untidy as ever. Well, that was worth a shot. I walked in and spotted Bodhi immediately. He was working in one side of the garage next to three other programs, two guys and a girl with blue hair. I directed towards them and, once there, cleared my throat to make my presence acnowledged. Bodhi looked up and smiled at me.
-Ramee! So you came.
-Well, I do need a job.- I answered, smiling back at him.
He got up and put his arm around my shoulders.
-And this is a good place to start. Come on, I'll introduce you to the big boss around here.
I followed him to an office and we both got in. Sitting at a desk was a program with dark skin and white hair, obviously Bodhi's boss.
-Able? This the program I talked to you about.
Able got up and walked closer to us, examining me carefully. I felt a little uncomfortable with the observation but I remained still.
-So you're Ramee.- he said after some time.
-Yes, sir.
Able laughed.
-Don't "sir" me, kid, it makes me feel old. Bodhi tells me you're new in town, is that correct?
-Yes, si... yes.
-And you're a mechanic?
-Some would say a pretty good one.- I answered, shrugging.
-Well, we'll see about that.- he said as he walked over to a wall where there were many batons (and when I say many, I don't really mean many, I mean more than I'd ever seen together), stored in shelves.
Able picked one and throwed it to me. I catched it with ease, thanks to the acurate reflexes I'd gotten from training, then running away, then that damn program hunt I was conducting to find Koru.
-Fix this and you're in. Bodhi will show where to work.
We got out of the office and Bodhi led me to where he was working before.
-I really hope you're as good as you say.
-Don't you worry about that.- I answered with my best smile. Which wasn't the best smile ever, by the way.
I took a few steps back then rezzed the lightcycle. I heard an impressed whistle behind me.
-And you're sure you can fix that?- Bodhi asked.
I could understand his skepticism. The bike was really, really, damaged. To be honest, I'd never seen a bike in that state before, let alone fixing one. It almost looked deliberate. Almost. But I was still confident. After all, I'd been taught by the best.
-Yeap. Piece of cake.- I answered, with half honesty, as I kneeled next to the bike and started to work on it.
After a short while, I heard a female voice behind me adressing to Bodhi.
-Hey, Bodhi! Who's that?
I looked over my shoulder and saw the blue haired girl I'd seen before, followed closely by the other two programs.
-Possible new colleague. Guys, this is Ramee. Ramee, these are my friends, Beck, Zed and Mara.
As he said their names, he pointed in turns to the tall guy with spiky black hair, the program with dark skin and brown hair, and finall to the girl with blue hair. I waved at them absent mindedly, focused on my work. The girl, Mara, kneeled next to me to get a better view of my actions.
-I really hope Able hires you.- she said. -It would be nice to have another girl in the group.
I turned my head to face her and smiled. I liked her already. I kept working on the bike for a while, moving the codes aside now and then, as long as I'd finished dealing with them. Suddenly I heard a male voice next to me.
-You know, that code looks weird for a recently rearranged one.
I didn't even blink at the sudden interruption, but I looked towards the voice, only to find Beck kneeling next me. He had a softer voice than I expected. I think I was expecting him to be just like every other guy I'd ever met, starting with my teammates when I was still a soldier, finishing with Bodhi and Able, and passing by Koru. This unexpected discovery made me react a bit more aggressively than I would have in normal circumstances. Always happens. Something surprises me, I get the aggressive show on.
-You know, I'm perfectly capable to fix a lightcycle on my own, thank you very much.
I saw him retreat a little in surprise and immediately regreted my tone. What the hell was wrong with me? (If you're surprised that I say hell, I'll just say I learned it from Koru, and he learned it from... well, who knows where)
-Besides,- I added in a much friendlier tone. -if you help me it would be cheating and I don't cheat.
I saw him smile and I had to contain a sigh of relief. Damage repaired, now let's move to the next thing that needs fixing. I fought against the damaged bike for a while longer then stood up, pleased with my work. The bike that Able had handed me almost completely destroyed was now looking as good as new. And I've got to admit that it was a really nice bike. Purple circuits, a stylized design... it definitely looked built for speed. Not in the way of a good old-fashioned Encom 786 but close. Real close. My type of bike. I heard the same impressed whistle as before, this time multiplied by four. I couldn't help but smile. A fifth one sounded just moments later, making me turn around and see Able standing next to Bodhi, Beck, Zed and Mara, arms crossed and looking impressed.
-Well, looks like you weren't lying about your skills as a mechanic. You're in.
I started to thank him in a rush. He stopped and walked to the bike.
-Don't thank me kid. You've earned it.- He turned the bike back into a baton. -And you've earned this too.- he added, handing me the baton.
I didn't take it. I just stared at him.
-I... I can't accept it.
-Kid, I've got too many of these gathering dust in shelves. And honestly, this bike looks like it was made for you. So please, do me a favor and accept it.
I finnally decide to take it, feeling like it was all too good to be true. But it was. That's how my new life began. I made friends and I took a job. And for a while it was good. But I should have learned from my past experiences that, under Clu's power, such things are never meant to last.