A single beam of light illuminated the dark surface of the Sea of Simulation as a Recognizer soared slowly over it. The ragtag group of about a dozen programs were all bunched into the top of the white circuited vehicle, and oddly enough, each one was dead silent.
Their entire world had fallen apart only five millicycles ago, but it felt more like a thousand complete cycles. It was then that Flynn had reintegrated Clu, causing an enormous explosion that took out a good portion of the Grid. These programs, most of what was left of the security monitors, had volunteered to see if there was anything left of their beloved Portal. It had gone almost completely dark, the only reminder a faint shimmering glow.
Suddenly one of the programs cried out, pointing down to the sea.
"Look! Just there! There's someone down there!"
The Recognizer shuddered to a halt and the collection of programs all crowded around the edges of the vehicle to peer down to the sea. A body was silhouetted against the light, the darkened circuits flickering the dimmest white. There was a moment of shocked silence, then suddenly everyone was moving.
The Recognizer dipped lower, the platform sliding down until it nearly touched the sea. Three of the programs hovered at the edge and reached out to the unmoving stranger.
"Careful, careful."
Slowly, gently, the mysterious program was hauled onto the platform and laid out on the ground. The arrangement of believers gathered around in curiosity, several kneeling by the dripping program's side. Carefully, gently, one rolled him over onto his back and immediately leapt back in fear.
"It's Rinzler!"
"Throw him back in!"
"Someone derezz him before he kills us all!"
A tall, slim woman stepped quietly away from the driver's position of the Recognizer and pushed her way towards the still monitor on the ground. Several programs felt her surprisingly strong grip on their shoulders and immediately quieted, the rest silencing at her dark glare.
"He's not just Rinzler," she told them quietly, kneeling beside him. A slender finger reached out to brush his neck, deactivating the helmet. It slid back slowly, revealing an all-too-familiar face. The programs all gasped, backing up further.
"He's Tron," the woman finished softly, brushing a lock of dark brown hair out of his closed eyes. She gently traced the darkened 'T' on his chest and sighed, pulling him carefully into her arms. "So this is how we meet again, huh?" she murmured to the deactivated program, a sad smile quirking her lips.
There was no reply, of course. The other programs stood around awkwardly for a few moments, not wanting to interrupt.
"Yori?" one finally asked hesitantly.
Yori looked up after a moment, one hand gently stroking through Tron's hair. There was another pause before she nodded, falling back into her role as the leader of the group. "Someone else drive. Get us back on the main grid," she ordered. "We naturally absorb the energy spikes there. With any luck, it'll help Tron.
"But what about-"
"We can come back for the portal," she snapped. "But we don't know how long Tron's been like this and how long he has left before he derezzes. Do it now."
There was a moment's pause before everything came to life again, all the programs scrambling into action. The Recognizer shuddered a few times before starting up again and turning back the way it came. Yori's head fell to rest against Tron's, her curly blonde hair cascading down in front of her face and hiding her relieved tears.