Legal Disclaimer: Tron, the movie and all related IP and characters are copyright Disney. I make no money at all from this fanfiction story. Ro, Rayna, and other original characters are copyright me!
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The Solar Sailer had gotten away from the MCP's command carrier for the time being. Sark was reeling from the disciplinary action he had received from the MCP, the interrupted power cycles continuing to burn through his body.
He knew that if more programs were to escape, the MCP might resort to de-rezzing him. He couldn't fail at this mission. He considered any factors which might make the situation worse.
He instantly thought of Ro.
I can make sure he's loyal if I get a spy bot into his quarters, he thought. The last thing I want to deal with is him defecting...
"Null!", Sark shouted.
A red program in soldier armor ran and stood before him. "Yes, Commander!", he said.
"Get your guards to sneak in a spy byte into his quarters. I need to see if Ro is as loyal as I think he is.", Sark demanded.
"Yes sir!", Null acknowledged.
Soon enough, the guards retrieved the byte and proceeded to plant it in a small corner Ro's living area while he was busy in the grid. Once there, the byte would remain still on the corner of the room, ready to be activated. Once the communication signal is in effect, the byte would only be able to transmit sounds for a finite time before it de-rezzes.
Meanwhile, Rayna and Ro had finished their long practice game of Discs. They had both scored a large number of points, and Ro was slightly in the lead.
However, they could not continue...they were both showing physical signs of exhaustion.
"Wow...", Ro said. "You're amazing at this."
"So are you!", Rayna replied.
"Well... it looks like training's done for now.", Ro said.
"You have a pretty cool style of playing", Rayna commented.
"Yeah...I have a lot of techniques, mainly as a form of non-lethal playing.", Ro replied.
"Wait a cycle, you don't de-rez players??" Rayna said, with a surprised tone. "...wow...good for you!! Honestly, I've never met a red program who actually seemed somewhat coherent."
"...only somewhat coherent?!", Ro exclaimed.
"Oh, you're totally coherent!!... I mean, um... like...you know what I mean!", Rayna frustratingly replied back. Ro simply looked at her with a michievous grin.
She suddenly figured out that he was getting back at her for her previous statement on the game grid, the one that made Ro frustrated.
"Oh, shut up!", Rayna yelled, laughing. Ro laughed in reaction.
They had left the training building and began to walk out along a corridor. Rayna spotted two guards in front of her. She was sure that they heard her yell. The guards lifted their energy rods in a sign of defense.
"Stand down. I am in charge of her.", Ro commanded to the guards. The two soldiers dropped their staffs and remained at their posts.
Ro took Rayna down a different hallway, one she had not seen before.
"Where are we going?", Rayna asked.
"I don't want you to remain stuck in those dinky cells.", Ro said. "I have a spare corridor block in my quarters and you can stay there. There's more room and a more comfortable setup... that is, if it's ok with you."
"Jeeze, a couple dozen microcycles of some intense game playing and you already want me to spend the night at your place? Smooth move, Romeo.", Rayna sarcastically said to him.
Ro chuckled, and gave off a somewhat embarassed look. "Nooo, not like that. I just think you shouldn't be forced to stay there like a prisoner."
"Um, last time I checked, I AM a prisoner here.", Rayna said.
"I know, and quite frankly, I don't like it. I will tell you more, but not here." Ro pointed out the way to his corridor.
After a short walk, Rayna and Ro made it back to the private quarters. He pressed some buttons by the entrance, and the door in front of them de-rezzed into a transparent wireframe. Once inside, the door rezzed back into solidity behind them. Ro plopped on his couch and let out a sigh of relaxation. Rayna followed suit, and plopped right next to him. She took a gaze around his living room, taking in the shades of turquoise, blue, and yellow. "Wow...Not a bad place", Rayna remarked.
"I know, it's not much, but I guess I can say it's home.", he replied.
Rayna looked back at him, smiling. Right then, she noticed a scar below his right eye, the cut looking like an angular etched circuitry design.
"How did you get that?", Rayna pointed at the mark.
"Oh, that... I guess you can say it was a bad day at the games. A disc narrowly got me... and it grazed my cheek. I was lucky."
"Oh user. I'm sure that wasn't luck. That was skill to get out of that one... I know you've got the skills to do anything in the games!"
"Hah, thanks. You do too!! Even in your dancing gear", Ro smiled lightheartedly as he pointed at her leotard bottom and then her earrings.
"Hey, well dancing's a game too! When's the last time you've gone dancing at a music sector??", she asked.
While their conversation was occuring, Null stood before a small control panel back on the command carrier.
"Activating Spy Byte designation 3A4B". He pressed a button on the panel. The byte slowly began to rez into a starting procedure.
-
"I've never gone to one. I didn't even know they were that common.", Ro replied to Rayna.
"Oh yeah they are!! Probably not here...well...definately not here, after what the MCP has done". Rayna said, in a depressed manner.
"I know... but I would like to go. I would love to see how it's like.", Ro said, trying to cheer her up.
"Really?", she said.
"Definately. It would be an interesting experience", Ro said, enthusiastically.
"Oh, it's amazing! The atmosphere, the intensity, the rhythm flowing through you like a pure power source." Rayna grinned and sighed at the thought, the blue circuitry on her entire body flaring slightly for a moment. "My user...there's nothing like it!"
Ro smiled back at her.
"Ya know...could I like... ask you something?? You don't have to answer if you don't want to.", Rayna said, in a somewhat quiet voice.
"Sure... what?", Ro said, in a somewhat confused tone.
"Just curious... why don't you believe in the users?", Rayna asked.
Just then, the spy byte in the corner silently became fully activated, and started to transmit anything the 2 programs were saying...