AN: Sorry it took so long to get this up, again. /= I'm really getting bad at updating, aren't I? Oh well, at least it's an update ^^ Thanks to 2theSky, Yoffa, PrincessKai317 and imaginationanimation for reviewing!


Chapter Nine

Tron was watching the memories on Beck's disk, eyes widening in surprise when the Rogue suddenly disappeared out of view. Beck leaned against a table as he waited for his mentor to say anything. He knew that Tron was disappointed that he had returned empty handed. But what he had learned about the Rogue might make up for his lack of success.

"So... what does this mean?" Beck looked at Tron questioningly, unsure of how to break the awkward silence that filled the room. If Mira were here she would have broken the silence long ago. She seemed to know how to get under Tron's skin.

"It means that the Rogue is more trouble than I realized," Tron sighed as he returned the disk to Beck. He turned to the screen that overlooked the Outlands. Beck raised an eyebrow in surprise when images flew across the screen. "I've tried searching for the Rogue's code, but any time I reach a breakthrough it disappears."

"Someone's figured out to hide their code," Beck muttered crossly.

He knew it was possible to hide your disk's code. But he never figured it out, and he wasn't in any hurry to. It felt slightly reassuring knowing that Tron was watching over him.

"I need you to keep an eye out for the Rogue," Tron said once the screen went blank again. He turned to face Beck, but Beck avoided his sharp gaze.

"Already done," Beck replied. He was confident that he could track down the Rogue again. He'd done it twice already, he had no doubt he could find the Rogue again. "I'll start looking after work." Tron gave him a look of surprise before he shook his head. Tron knew that Able was alive, so why did he look so surprised?

Beck didn't bother asking as he walked out of the safehouse. Tron was a complicated program, and he knew that there was more to Tron's past than he would ever need to know.

Once outside of the safehouse, he rezzed his light cycle and headed towards the garage. He was thankful that Tron had given him a slight break in his training. He could still hold his own in a fight, but it was good to have a training session every now and than. For now he could finally relax and enjoy the break.

. . .

"Cutler is dead." Mira's words were like chips of ice when she stared blankly at the glass. She was sitting in a booth at the club in Argon City. Sitting in front of her was Galm, who had ordered a drink for himself as well. "I found his disk at the edge of the city. He was repurposed by Clu."

She had told Galm about Cutler when they first met. The old program had been a good friend of hers, and they ran into each other again at the games. But in the end Cutler had been captured by Clu, and Mira didn't need to remember what she had seen on his disk.

"I'm sorry," Galm whispered. "I didn't realize that was why you were in Argon." When Mira looked away Galm raised an eyebrow in surprise. "There's more to this mission, isn't there?" He leaned forward, and Mira folded her arms in frustration.

Her eyes widened when she spotted a trio of familiar looking programs walk into the club. The music that blasted around them had suddenly become silent when she recognized them. She looked away just as Galm had followed her gaze.

"We should go, now," she muttered under her breath.

"I see what this is about," Galm laughed. Mira was about to glare at him when she realized that he was just trying to lighten the atmosphere. "I'm sure he's just hanging out with his friends. Like any other program."

"Right." Mira rolled her eyes.

She was thankful she had a mask on. Beck would have recognized her almost as quickly as he had walked into the club. And she knew that he wouldn't let her leave without asking what had happened.

"Let's go," Galm whispered when they sat down in a booth nearby. Mira couldn't help but smirk when programs gave them curious looks. Usually only guards or soldiers wore masks to the club. She had no doubt they thought the newcomers were spies for Clu.

Mira led the way out of the club and grinned when they were outside. On the building closest to the club were the words, "Clu Kills". She made sure that programs saw those words before meeting with Galm.

"Nice work," Galm folded his arms and looked at the neon purple and green letters.

"I think Moog's attitude is rubbing off on me," Mira muttered. She rubbed the back of her helmet in embarrassment at the thought. It was good to be surrounded by allies, especially when she already knew what Moog and Rasket were like.

"Get everyone out of here!" Mira's eyes narrowed when she saw a program running towards the club. "There's some kind of monster headed for the club!"

Mira exchanged a look of surprise with Galm. What passed for a monster in the Grid was something along the lines of Rinzler, or Clu. She looked back to where the program had been and held back a gasp.

Rinzler was bounding towards them, tail waving in the air until he skidded to a halt.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded when she picked him up.

"I was wondering where you kept him," Galm laughed as Rinzler batted at her finger.

"I made a cage that would hold him... or so I thought." Mira sighed in annoyance when Rinzler climbed onto her shoulder. "What am I going to do with you?"

She was just thankful the running program hadn't derezzed him. The thought of them considering him as a monster made her giggle. Obviously they had not met Clu or the real Rinzler.

"Well since he's made himself at home we better get going before we're caught," she said.

Galm nodded in agreement. Mira rezzed her light cycle and sped off towards the tunnel that led to Purgos, giving Galm enough time to catch up. She knew that sooner or later the soldiers would show up, and that wasn't going to end well if they saw Rinzler.

She looked over her shoulder to make sure that Galm was following, but to her horror she saw another program was following them. Her eyes widened in alarm when she recognized the programs' suit.

Users no, not now! She held on to the handlebars of her light cycle as Galm caught up.

"Looks like we've got company," Galm announced when he reached her.

No duh, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

"Think we can shake him off?" Mira glanced over her shoulder once more. The program was still following them, but at a surprisingly safe distance. She knew that the program wouldn't get much closer unless they acted first.

"Just keep going," she replied.

Her heart was pounding with dread as she thought of what they could do. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt the program, especially when she knew who the program was.

Suddenly she pulled on the breaks, giving Galm enough time to speed ahead. He looked back at her in shock before she slowed down.

"Go on ahead, he's following your code," she called. Galm raised an eyebrow in surprise before he matched her speed. "Rinzler, you go with him."

The kitten gave her a look of surprise before doing as he was told. Mira thanked the Users that he was finally listening as Galm managed to speed ahead once Rinzler jumped onto his shoulder. She slowed down enough for the program to catch up.

Mira wasn't surprised when the program remained silent. She had a feeling that a friendly conversation was the last thing on their mind.

"So are we just going to stare at each other all cycle or what?" She glared at the program, though they couldn't see it. For once she was thankful to have a mask, especially in confrontations like these.

"You're code is different from the other programs." His reply was something Mira anticipated. She knew it must be frustrating not to know where she was or why he couldn't find her.

"Maybe that's because I'd rather not get caught." She folded her arms as she leaned back. Light cycles and trucks were passing them, but at this point they were both oblivious.

"What you did was dangerous." The program's accusing tone made Mira roll her eyes in annoyance.

Of course it was dangerous. Just being on the Grid was dangerous. She knew how to survive now thanks to the help of a few friends.

"So are you just going to attack me and drag me away?" Mira continued glaring at the program as he leaned forward.

Her eyes widened in alarm when she saw a recognizer flying towards them. The program had noticed the recognizer as well, but he made no move to flee. Instinctively she reached for her disk, but she held back just as the recognizer was about to land.

"Halt programs, you are in violation of the curfew!" Mira's blood ran cold when a powerful voice shook the street below.

Searching the streets wasn't something Clu normally did on his own. The programs around them were running towards the apartment buildings as soldiers began storming out of the recognizer. Standing behind them was an eerily familiar looking face.

The program didn't bother turning his light cycle back into a baton. Clu's smirk was almost unbearable as Mira watched him follow the soldiers. They were protecting him from anyone foolish enough to attack. The few programs that were too stubborn to flee were derezzed before they could react.

"Give us a few nanocycles." Mira held her breath as the soldiers parted to let Clu through. "Well well, it's been a while hasn't it?"

"Clu." The word had come out in a snarl, and for a moment Mira thought the program would derezz Clu right than and there.

Would make things easier for me, she thought with a slight chagrin. But now wasn't the time for humor. Their lives were in danger, and if they didn't get away Clu would capture them both or derezz them.

"And this must be the infamous Rogue I've been hearing so much about." Clu gave Mira a calm look. "Normally I would derezz you both, but I have an offer that you wouldn't want to miss."

Mira was about to ask what he meant by that when three soldiers returned to the recognizer. The program that had chased her earlier was struggling to keep his cool, and understandably so.

Clu was a traitor, a murderer, and dictator. Clu was the reason most of the ISOs were gone. As far as Mira knew Quorra was still alive and well. She had seen her ISO friend in cycles, not since she first stayed in Argon City.

Horror coursed through Mira when the soldiers returned, nanocycles later, with three programs struggling to free themselves. Clu smirked when the program beside her realized the extent of the situation. He had captured Mara, Zed and Beck.


AN: So yeah... She finally sees Clu for the first time. And I may have left you on a cliffhanger there. Sorry about that ^^" But it was necessary for things to move on. So, tell me what you thought of this chapter. Does it stink, or did you like it? ;)

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