Chapter 8
The tone of Grid life calmed greatly the deeper into the core of the city they went. Far below, programs became far more secular, quiet and determined to reach their next destination with the least amount of interaction possible. The most common attire out in the outer rim of the city was clothing, lined with orange circuitry. The few programs they did see here wore large cloaks with their faces covered with hoods. Their circuitry was either a depressingly dim blue or wasn't there at all. They hadn't left the rooftops for a long while until the two of them reached what appeared to be a fortified wall. It was only by accessing a specific rooftop and kicking off the adjacent wall, that Aaron and Bril were able to breach the perimeter.
"Why the wall?" Aaron asked with a grunt as he dropped from a small building established in the wall. Bril's eye didn't fall on Aaron, instead it followed the tall, black, sleek wall as it spanned down the horizon. The octagon iris of the program lost its tiny grey, glow, instead it seemed dim and sad.
"Because we lost the war." He said finally looking back at Aaron. "They don't call us prisoners, but here in what's left of Tron City, we are certainly not free." Aaron glanced around his dismal surroundings. The architectural lights were as the lights both displayed on the programs' clothing and the light in their souls; dim and dying. The buildings seemed to be like ruins. Aaron's college history classes connected the image with the hundreds of years old photographs of the ghettos that populated Poland. "It wasn't long after your Grandfather was sent back to your world. The Disciples always knew where to find us. They were just waiting for the right moment, when our moral was at its lowest." Bril and Aaron slipped from the deserted street and down through the dark alleys. "They first launched an energy barrier, all around where you see this wall stand today. With all the programs trapped, the guards dropped in from above. What little of our forces stood against them but in the end, we were too few." Those faithful to the Creator had all banded to thrive in the center of the city however, they were unaware that instead, they were only cornering themselves in the clutch of the Disciples' forces. Bril stopped walking and stood silent for a moment. The veteran program could still see the massacre before his very eyes. Aaron watched him in remorse.
"You were there, weren't you," Aaron observed.
"I was a newer program. Not as new as Sage is now, but I only fought in the tail end of the war," Bril answered. The program then came to, and motioned to continue. Aaron and Bril strode through the emptiness in near silence. Both of their hoods covered their faces as they continued on. It was another five minutes until Aaron and Bril stopped again. The lights of the sign flickered slightly on the outside of the building. The structure was just off what appeared to be the remnants of a main road. Aaron read the neon lettering which read: Under The Line. "In here Aaron," Bril mumbled with a motion of his hand. Aaron attempted to step inside only to be interrupted by the program. "Word of warning by the way," Bril started. "Chaio is no store keeper, she's a black market dealer. We wouldn't even think about coming to her, however, she's the only dealer not under the control of the Disciples."
"So what are you trying to say?" Aaron asked.
"She's no friend of the Disciples, but she's also not a believer." Aaron nodded as he processed this important note. Bril then removed his hand from Aaron's chest and let him step inside. The doorway quickly turned left and snaked around a protruding wall to allow the inside a degree of privacy. The inside was a low ceilinged circular chamber. In strategic points, metal girders lined with lights held the room together and illuminated the vast empty space. The only presence in the room was the circular counter in the very middle. Aaron took another step inside only to be surprised by the sudden lighting of the floor. The floor glowed and illuminated the space brightly. From the far right wall, the hidden door split open, allowing a figure clad in a suit of tight white to step inside. A half skirt flowed around her legs as she strode to them. Her hair was a graying white, curtaining her dark skinned face. Her silver lips spread into a smile as she approached the two programs.
"Been awhile hasn't it Bril," she stated. The Scarred program glared with his only eye.
"That it has," he snarled back.
"Nice to see you again too," she snapped back. Aaron winced as he backed out of the crossfire.
"I didn't say anything."
"I noticed." The program flicked her gaze to Aaron. "I hope he has better manners than you Bril," she scowled. Aaron decided to stay out of whatever history these two were shooting over.
"Look Chaio, we don't have that much time. My friend here needs some armament," Bril finally said, letting up on his aggression. The program called Chaio however still scowled at him.
"It is only my debt to Dep that makes me even consider helping you." Chaio looked over to Aaron with a softer look. "This way." Aaron was led to the lonely, circular counter in the center of the room. As they came closer, a large tube-like container rose from the floor. All around them, other block like structures rose from the ground as well. Aaron watched the seemingly empty room come to life. The block on the floor projected blue hologram images of what appeared as armor plating. As Chaio reached the opening to the tube, she spun on her high heels and motioned for him to enter.
"Don't worry," she crooned. "There's no pain involved." Her soft voice seemed soothing to Aaron. So far, he found no reason for Bril's hostility; Chaio seemed to Aaron like a warm individual. Aaron examined the open area of the tube then slipped off his backpack. He handed it to Bril then sighed before stepping inside. The tight space was dark compared to the bright open area of the spacious room. Aaron turned around in the cramped space to watch the doors seal closed. Aaron wasn't sure at all what to expect; the last time he stepped into a sealed container, he was digitized to another world. Where his feet were, planted, suddenly barriers found the box of his stance and trapped him in place. A robotic arm extended out to both of his sides. They finally touched the collar of his jacket before tiny red laser tips ignited and seared his cloths in half. The arms followed his shape from his collar to his feet. The two halves drooped from his figure and then disintegrated into nothing as they touched the floor around the protective barrier for his feet. Aaron found himself standing completely naked in the metal tube. The next thing he knew, his bare feet were surrounded by new barriers ignited from the floor. Suddenly his feet were incased by a black material that expanded and formed around his entire body. The black suit was surprisingly comfortable and more free than he expected. As the doors split open, the light of Chaio's chamber spilled inside and allowed Aaron to step out. Aaron's body suit compared to Bril and Chaio's plating and robes still made him feel bare. Chaio led him next to one of the blocks with a projection of back plating. She stepped up to the block and touched the top, causing a drawer to slide open, revealing the plating. Aaron watched in wonder as she took the piece of armor and placed it on his back. The piece latched onto the black suit and materialized into an entire back. Chaio then stepped to the block next to the back plate drawer. The same function opened to allow her to access the chest piece. She gently placed the front on his chest. As the other plate expanded, the chest piece materialized and meshed into a single piece with the back. More and more, as Chaio placed the plating on his bodysuit, the armor meshed together into his new light suit. As Aaron stood in awe, Chaio approached him again with an object he recognized easily. "This is your Identity Disc," she said. She said firmly. "Everything you experience will be logged and held on this disc, it is a part of you." Chaio walked gracefully around Aaron's broad form. As she attached the disc to his back plate, a strange feeling flowed through him. He felt, in a strange way, complete. Bril watched as the disc was uploaded into Aaron's physical system; the user's hazel eyes flashed with a sudden blue before darkening again. Finally after the disc fully booted in his system, Aaron's light suit surged with a bright and brilliant white circuitry. Aaron couldn't hide his enthusiasm at the amazing set of armor he was given. Bril stepped up to him with a grin.
"Not bad at all Flynn," he said in his gravelly voice. He turned to Chaio and spoke as he handed a neatly folded square of fabric. "I took the liberty myself."
"Of course you did," Chaio replied sourly. She then turned to another block and pressed the top again. Again, the drawer slid open and she extracted a thin rod-like device that was a foot long. "You will want one of these," she said as she handed Aaron the baton. Aaron grabbed it and examined the sleek device, noting the small design in the middle which appeared as brail. Aaron searched around his new armor for a place to store it. He flicked his gaze to Bril for a reference and found Bril's baton fastened to the program's thigh. Aaron attempted the same, only to have the tool drop with a clatter on the illuminated floor. "Try your boot," Chaio said playfully. Aaron looked embarrassingly up at the program who now had a skeptical expression molded on her face. He picked up the baton and found that on the outside of his boot, the tool secured itself like a magnet on metal. "So you're the user," she said in mock awe. Aaron stood up strait as he peered back at the mischievous program; he looked puzzled. "Did you think I wouldn't notice Bril?" She snapped back at the program. "Everyone saw the portal open," she said. She turned away to face Bril. "Including the Disciples." Bril growled as he approached the dealer.
"Not a word Chaio," he demanded.
"Oh please," she laughed. "What good could I possibly reap from the Disciples sending their guards into my establishment?" Chaio turned again to look at Aaron who now wore an expression of concern. "No, I will not turn in your 'hero,'" she said. "However, before long, the Disciples will come here in search for him. They will threaten destruction if he is not turned over to them. Then it will be the entire Grid after him."
