And this is where our heroes get separated from each other after a moment's reprieve.

Now, I recall a particular reviewer guessing on this: well, you're about to get the honor of reading what happens for this chapter! Though, if I make someone start crying or traumatized them, I apologize in advance.

That being said, hope you enjoy!

Constructive reviews and compliments are welcome. Rude comments are not.

Read, review, but no flames allowed.


Chapter 7: Separation

Meanwhile, the ship the commander was riding in slowly sailed alongside the tanks as they scoured the landscape in search for the escaped programs and users that managed to slip from their sight. But there was no luck on their part; they've thrown them off the scent. Inside, the commander was growing frustrated that he hadn't found those escapees as he had hoped he would; really he just wanted them gone and the sooner the better.

"Pursuit force reporting: We lost visual contact with escaped units. Awaiting further orders."

Sark was pretty much not in the mood for a game of cat and mouse, and despite knowing that he has other problems to deal with, he had to deal with the fact that he needed another way to find them.

"Get the pursuit forces back into the canyons," Sark ordered, "Those programs never made it out of there."

One of his units tried to assure that things will go right. "We'll have them back in no time, sir, long before the interrupt interface."

The commander was rather skeptic on it. "We'd better, Null Unit. I'd be lucky if the MCP doesn't blast into a dead zone. I want those conscripts!"

If anything at the point, the irritated commander wants those programs that escaped to be found, dead or alive…preferably de-rezzed as soon as possible.


Back in their temporary hiding place, after explaining the matter of discerning their location and their intended destination to Tron, the security program thankfully was more than willing to scope out the area through that wide window nested right above the slope within the safe zone. Of course, since Tec was also eager to find something helpful as much as his brother do, both 'siblings' climbed up the slope to get a good view of what's out there.

"What's up there? What'd you see?" Kelly asked from down below.

"One thing is for certain: we're no longer seeing anything resembling the game grid whatsoever," Tec answered from above.

"Well, that's good news," Kevin said as he started to climb and take a look.

One at a time, the Flynn cousins hoisted themselves to see what their friends were able to observe for themselves; granted, Kelly had a little trouble since she's not the most skilled climber, but Ram was no different and needed a little help on that as well.

When Kelly got up there with the rest, she was amazed at how incredible the view was of the entire digital world. She could make out more geometric architectures surrounding what looked another piece of architect that has a single red beam reaching out like an antenna straight up towards their sky to parts unknown. If their situation wasn't so dire or serious, it was certainly a sight anyone would want to keep looking at for a while longer.

"So, when do we pay our visit to the old Master Control, huh?" Kevin couldn't help asking.

Ram looked at him like he was crazy. "What? There's just five of us."

"If anybody's got an army we can rent or something, that'd be something awesome," Kelly admitted.

"Yeah, but our users told us to go take that sucker out, or we're never gettin' out of here," Kevin agreed.

"We can't even get to the MCP with the help of my User, or my brother's for that matter," Tron told them, "We have to get to that input/output tower and communicate with them."

"Well, great, check in with Alan. Maybe he knows what…" Kevin's speech faltered a bit as he finally took notice of the watery substance was heading towards. "What's that?"

Kelly, noticing this, also got curious about it. "It looks like some kind of water, doesn't it?"

"That is just what I need right now," Ram said eagerly.

"I could say the same," Tec agreed as he followed everyone down.

Upon closer examination, both cousins noticed how a glowing liquid substance nestled in the midst of the structures almost looked like water with a lot more shine than they'd seen in the oceans near the city back home; but when they touched it in order to test it, it was very similar yet surprisingly different from the impression of the water they knew.

"Incredible…" Kevin murmured in amazement.

"Is it safe to drink?" Kelly wondered, not sure what to make of it.

Well, considering how Tron taking handfuls of that liquid and drinking it that way and how Ram and Tec used their disks to scoop up enough to intake for themselves without a problem, that was enough of an indication that this watery material was not anything dangerous.

"Okay, I've changed my mind," Kelly quickly answered as she decided to test it herself.

As she was delving into the new experience, Kevin followed her and tested it to find that it was actually surprisingly refreshing, much closely to actual water (as expected).

Tron obviously savored it as he laughed in relief. "You don't how great the power feels, until you get to a pure source."

Tec shook his head as he continued to take in the liquid. "After all we've gone through; it's good to find something to bring our strength back up."

Ram, feeling reenergized, agreed, "My friends, my fellow conscripts, we have scored! I feel so much better now."

Naturally, they couldn't help but enjoy the rejuvenation they've found, and continued to intake the sweet substance available to them while they're here. Since they're there, they may as well make the most of things while they can until otherwise.


Meanwhile, a lone tank was searching around the area for any signs of those escaped programs with no avail. With all the winding paths around the area, it was hard to discern where they could possibly be right now; unless there was any indication of movement, the search might as well be futile.

"No sign of the escaped units. Moving into next sector," the scout reported, having not found anything worth mentioning.


As the conscripts were rejuvenating their sustenance, a strange sensation overcame Tron as though he was sensing something that everyone else wasn't noticing with him. Moments after he did, his brother also felt that strong surge flowing through his circuits.

"I can feel it," Tron blurted out.

"I sense it, too," Tec agreed.

Kevin looked up in confusion. "Feel what? You okay?"

"What's the matter, you two? Is it something important?" Kelly questioned when she heard this.

"Alan-1," Tron answered as Tec replied, "Alex-1!"

The cousins looked at each other, at first unsure of what they were talking about; that is, until they remembered that the two programs had a connection with the Bradley brothers back home, and were most likely reestablishing who their Users were and that they had to get in touch with them for any help that was required of them.

"Let's move out!" Tron called like a soldier ready to head for the battlefield.

Tec got up and started to follow. "I'm right behind you."

In a rather humorous fashion, Kevin and Ram decided to just take a little more before heading out, most likely just in case since they wouldn't find another savory spot like it anytime soon. On the other hand, Kelly hurried to keep up with the brother programs.

"Whoa, whoa, wait up!" she called as she skedaddled out. "C'mon, you two, hurry up! The tyrant program's not gonna wait, y'know!"

"You heard her, Flynn. Put a cork in it," Ram added as he hastened to catch up.

"One second!" Kevin called as he struggled to keep up with the rest of the party.

Kelly couldn't help laughing light-heartedly as she and the rest of the gang followed Tron and Tec through the tunnel they came out of, and prepared to reset their lightcycles and take off for the I/O tower.


Within moments, all of the escapees were back in their lightcycles and speeding away through the labyrinth; Tron led the group as they made plans to head for the I/O tower that he spoke about and, hopefully, be able to contact either Alan or Alex and get what they need to reach the MCP and remove it from the system for good. Tec was not far behind him, with Kelly third in line and Kevin and Ram following right behind her.

But as they were making their way towards the bridge, nobody suspected that a solitary military tank made an appearance and spotted them headed towards that very bridge. The tank units operating the tank prepared to line the gun up to blow away the escaped programs under the orders of their commander.

"Range: nine. Mark: 45, 48 degrees."

While the tank was lining its sight on the bridge, three of the five riders were proceeding to the other side with the two others following a little ways behind them.

"Hold it…Hold it…Fire!"

All of a sudden, the tank fired off a shot at the bridge, destroying the only way to the I/O tower and wreaking the area. Tron, Tec, and Kelly narrowly managed to escape the blast; but Kevin and Ram were not so lucky, and were blasted away from the bridge along with a lot of the rubble that broke from the section where the bridge should've been.

Horrified at what just happened and worried for their partners, Tron and Kelly looked out, trying to look for any sign of their friends among the rubble before their eyes. Even Tec tried to scan for them as well, fearing the worst.

"I don't see them anywhere…" Tec reported.

"Ram! Flynn! Do you read me?" Tron tried to call them.

"Kevin, are you alright? Answer me!" Kelly implored, her fear rising up.

Then, they had heard a voice giving off a report: "Pursuit force reporting. Two escaped units de-rezzed."

That hit Tron hard on a new level. "No!"

"KEVIN!" Kelly screamed at the top of her lungs in agony.

They didn't have time for mourning when more shots were fired at the three, forcing them to shift their attention and see more tanks coming towards their path and trying to shoot them down as well. If they stayed any longer, what are the odds that they're sitting ducks until they've been destroyed as well?

"Tron, Kelly, we can't stay here!" Tec called out. "We have to get out of here and head to the I/O tower, now!"

Reluctantly, Tron and Kelly revved up their cycles and sped away from the site with Tec right behind them.

On Kelly's part, she really didn't want to believe what just happened before her eyes. Kevin was her only family left aside from relatives on his side of the family, and her life revolved around him and his antics with technology; she couldn't bear the idea that she had lost someone who was practically a brother to her, and now she was on her own in another world and no other people she's familiar with. For once, she was at a loss as to what she could possibly do without Kevin. What could she do? Her only hope was to hunt down the Master Control with Tron and his brother and, if there's ever the chance that she finds that Sark person, she'll make them wish they hadn't taken her cousin from her.


Unbeknownst to her, however, Kevin recovered from the shock of the blast to find that he had been separated from his cousin with Ram not responding as he should. Concerned for his friend, he hurried over to find if anything is wrong.

"Ram. Ram!" Kevin tried to call him, but with no response.

As much as he wanted to investigate the damage, he realized that the tanks were still coming towards their position and is more likely searching for any survivors in the midst of the rubble left behind. Not wanting to stick around, he immediately made every effort to lift up the unconscious Ram and dragged his body along to a thin area where he was sure nobody would be able to find them.

As the tank moved along the rubble, the scouting unit looked through the scope and found no signs of anything living among the rubble.

"No sign of life. Looks like we got them."

But the tanks didn't even realize that Kevin had hidden himself and Ram form their range of sight. Once he was sure that they were safe, he figured that the first thing he had to do – after all that he's experienced thus far, he had to find some way to get back with Tron and to Kelly; but for now, he didn't have the energy to keep going on foot. He had to find shelter and fast.

"Oh, man, what would Kelly think of this?" he muttered, "She's probably gonna kill me for making her worry like that…"


On the ship, Sark oversaw the scene down below them, and watched as three remaining cycles continued speeding through the corridors toward the location of the tower. Though he was satisfied that one of the Users had been dealt with along with another escapee, there was still the problem of that other one; how the other was able to evade the blast was beyond him, but since he knows that the female is with the security brothers, he didn't have too much problems on his hands.

"Continue pursuit of three remaining conscripts," Sark gave the command.

"Acknowledged. Proceeding towards sector frontier." A guard acknowledged the order.

As far as the commander knew, the most he had to do now is to keep diligent watch on the three other programs that have slipped away from them, and find out what their intentions were. Once he has what he needs, he'll do whatever is necessary to see them delete them from existence.


Meanwhile, on Kevin's part, he trekked through much of the corridors until he finally stumbled across a pile of rubble surrounding what looked like a piece of a vehicle. He didn't care what it was supposed to be, so as he could have a place to catch a rest until he could figure out what to do afterwards was good enough for him for the moment.

"We're gonna make it, Ram. I just gotta find a place to rest," Kevin promised.

It was a bit tricky to navigate through the rubble, but he didn't care one bit; he was getting tired, and it didn't help that he was still shaking from the shock he experienced the moment the tank shot at them. When he finally reached the peculiar head, he toddled inside and carefully set Ram down as best as he could before settling down himself.

"I thought this was supposed to be easy," he said to himself.

But as he lay down on the floor, his thoughts drifted back to his cousin as he recalled that they had been separated. Oh, he dreaded to think of what Kelly was going through when he and Ram got caught in the blast! He was so sure that those pursuers thought him dead, and quite possibly, she must've lost that she lost him as well. It hurt him a lot that such a notion would ever cross his dear cousin's mind, since he was her only support ever since she moved in with him; he promised that he'd be there to take care of her, and he royally screwed that up by getting himself into trouble and losing track of her! Well, if he had someone to blame for this…

"…Stupid commander and the Master Control," he said to himself, "If I know Kelly, she's gonna want revenge on them. Though, if I find her, I'm pretty sure she'll want to come after me first."

Well, there was nothing he could do at this point; he needed to regain his strength, so rest is first priority. Perhaps while he does, he could think of some way he could get back to the rest of the team, and maybe get help for Ram if at all possible.


As Kelly continued to speed through behind Tron and Tec, she had trouble shaking off the horrifying scene that she saw back at the bridge. She couldn't help questioning why this had to happen to her, why she had to lose her cousin so suddenly; it hurt her to even think about what had become of him.

No! She didn't want to think about it!

She had to keep her focus, and think about getting to the I/O tower and completing the mission of deleting the MCP from existence. That was the only thing that could prevent her from losing her mind after the things she had seen thus far, the only thing that could keep her together during this time of crisis. Kelly knew that Kevin would want her to keep on going at the very least.