So in this chapter, there's some scenes where it switches to first person (and in italics). These are memories of certain Programs/Users that I thought were relevant to bring in. We've got some teasing in here as well...
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime or Tron: Legacy or Tron: Uprising
Chapter 11
Tracking
"Why does this bring back bad memories?" Miko asked as she sat down on the roof of the Solar Sailer.
"It's the fastest way to Tron City according to Tron and based on how much time we've got…" Jack started, "I think we did the right thing in hopping on it,"
"Uh hello! MECH on a train mean anything to you?" Miko snapped, "I'm still trying to figure out what made them back off…wait a second,"
She turned to Jack.
"It was you wasn't it?"
Jack shrugged, "I wouldn't know…that was before I found out about my parents,"
Raf smiled as he watched the two bicker and fight, leaning on his hands…
"Ow!" he hissed, cradling his wrist as throbbing pains ran through it.
"Raf…you ok?" Quorra asked, sitting down next to her son.
"It's just my wrist," he answered, "Jack says I might have broken it in the Games,"
Quorra's eyes pained and she stepped around behind Raf, taking his Disk off his back.
"I want to show you this," she told him as she pulled up his code.
Raf stared at the coding with wide eyes, looking at the complexity of it…
"Whoa…that's Raf's code?" Miko asked, coming over, "That's…"
"Really complex," Jack agreed, "Is that because he's a User and an ISO?"
"Pretty much," Quorra nodded.
"So our coding…it'd be complex too?" Miko started.
Another nod.
"Then yours should be extremely complex," Miko whispered to Jack who shrugged.
"I'm…not letting anyone see my Disk," he growled, "I want to keep them out of our war,"
"Sounds good to me…though we'd be missing out on some awesome allies. Imagine what Tron could do to ol' Bucket Head!"
Jack's eyes flickered bright blue and he glared at Miko.
"These Programs, these people have enough problems of their own," he hissed, "I won't drag them into our war,"
"Jack, your eyes," Miko whispered.
"What's wrong with my eyes?" the young Prime growled.
"Remember how in the real world they glow when you're upset or scared?"
"…Yeah?"
"They're doing it now,"
"She's right," Raf said, wincing as his mother repaired the code in his wrist, "I haven't seen them glow like this since we got in here,"
Quorra and Tron looked at each other before turning to Jack, wanting an explanation.
"Please don't ask," Jack said nervously.
"We didn't say anything," Quorra said, snapping Raf's Disk back on his back, "But why do your eyes glow like a Program's? You're a User,"
"Yes," Jack nodded, "But I'm…different,"
"How?"
"I'm…look, it's not important," Jack said, his eyes returning to a normal stormy blue, "Right now, we need to find Raf's dad and get out of here before we're trapped for good,"
"He's right," Raf nodded, flexing his now healed wrist, "It'd be smart if we hurry,"
"We'll be at Tron City in a while," Quorra said, "Let's get some rest while we can,"
Tron watched over his companions as they slept. Raf slept peacefully in Quorra's arms, snuggling against her for warmth. Miko was peacefully curled up against the stairs of the Solar Sailer, her head laying on one of her arms, the other hanging off the side of the Sailer. Jack was anything but peaceful, Tron noticed.
The User was twitching in his sleep, shaking his head and occasionally whimpering as he flinched from an unknown cause. He gave a cry in a language that Tron didn't know before he shot up, eyes bright and wide.
"NO!" he cried before looking around and starting to calm himself.
"Are you alright, Jack?" the Program asked, walking up and sitting next to the Prime.
"I'm fine," Jack replied, sighing, "Just a nightmare,"
"You say that like it's a common thing,"
"For me…it is,"
"Why?"
Jack looked at Tron and then at Quorra and the other two sleepers.
Should he tell him?
"If you don't want to tell me that's fine, Jack," Tron said.
"No…I don't want to, but I feel like I should," Jack sighed, "I didn't want to drag you into our war,"
Tron looked at him, confused.
"You know how Users are human? Well…most of us," Jack started and Tron nodded, "Miko technically is the only human in the group. That's why I didn't react to the rain like she did. Raf's more human than me,"
"I don't understand…you look…human,"
"My kind can change form," Jack said softly, closing his eyes as he remembered, "But only I can look like this. My real form is one of metal, wire, and glass. That's why my eyes glow sometimes, because they do in my other form,"
"Do Miko and Rafael know?"
"Yes, but Quorra, Kevin, and Sam don't," Jack muttered, "And I'd like to keep it that way. I don't want to force the knowledge that they aren't alone in the universe on them…like it was for the three of us,"
"You just want to protect them,"
"It's in my nature to protect," Jack replied, "It's what my faction does and it's what a Prime…a leader basically…does as well,"
"You are a Prime then,"
"My true name is Ultimus Prime, son of Optimus Prime," Jack said with a slight smile, "But to being a good leader…I don't think I quite fit that yet. I was supposed to protect Miko and Raf while we searched for Sam and Quorra…I haven't done that,"
"You've performed admirably, Ultimus Prime," Tron told him.
"Just call me Jack," the young Prime said, "Only my parents call me that when I'm in…hot water with them,"
He bowed his head.
"Is it bad to say that I really miss them?" he asked, "My parents, my adopted siblings, my aunt…"
"It makes you more…human," Tron said, "More so than most Programs I know,"
"How much do you remember?" Jack asked, looking up at Tron, "From when you were…him,"
"Too much I'm afraid," the Program sighed, "They keep coming back and I…the horrible things I've done…"
He shook his head.
"I had a life once, before CLU, before I was brought here. I had someone dear to me. Flynn brought her here when I was, Yori," a soft smile graced his scarred face as he spoke her name, "Beautiful, absolutely beautiful she was. And CLU found her…"
His jaw clenched and he put his head in his hands.
"Rinzler killed her," he growled, "I killed Yori on CLU's command, she died because of me!"
Jack put a comforting hand on Tron's shoulder.
"She would have forgiven you, Tron," the young Prime answered, "If she loved you like you loved her, she would have,"
"I still remember her face…terrified, shocked, pleading…I begged Flynn to derezz me after Beck found us and I had gotten some rest, remembering…"
He trailed off, the memory clear as day.
*Tron POV*
"P-Please," I begged, grieving.
"Please what?" Flynn asked.
"Please, derezz me,"
"No,"
I pulled out my Disks, grabbing his hands and forcing him to hold them as they activated.
"Do it,"
"You heard me, Tron,"
"I don't deserve to live!" I cried, "I betrayed the Users, I betrayed you, the ISOs, Alan One,"
"You weren't in your right mind,"
"I KILLED HER!" I shrieked, burying my head in my hands, "I killed Yori, I derezzed her with those blasted Disks!"
I grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Derezz me, please Flynn, I don't deserve to live,"
"Flynn…what's going on?"
"Beck, leave," I ordered, "I don't want you to see this!"
"No," Flynn growled, "Beck, come, see if you can knock some sense into your mentor,"
Beck came closer and he touched my shoulder.
"Tron?" he asked.
I turned my head away and Flynn grabbed it, turning it to look straight at my apprentice.
"This is what you'll leave behind if I derezz you, Tron," Flynn snapped, "Beck is your legacy. He's a good fighter, but he still needs you as a mentor, as a friend. I lost my friend many cycles ago; I'd rather not lose him again. I've lost my son…I don't want to lose my oldest friend on the Grid,"
*End Memory*
"Tron?" Jack asked, snapping the Program out of the memory, "You ok?"
"Fine," he sighed, "Just a memory,"
"He's been getting those a lot since I found him and Flynn," a voice came from the back of the Sailer.
Tron gave an aggrieved sigh.
"I thought I told you to stay with Mara and Zed, Beck," the System Monitor growled, turning to face his apprentice.
"I was feeling better," the young Program shrugged, sitting next to his mentor, "Zed and Mara okayed it,"
Tron still didn't look amused.
"How much longer until we get to the City?" Beck asked, ignoring the look.
"Should be seeing it soon," Tron replied, getting up and looking over the railing.
"I'll go wake the others," Jack said.
"Don't bother," yet another voice said, "I'll do it,"
"Flynn," Tron sighed, "I thought you said you'd meet us at the Portal?"
"Got tired of waiting and I heard about the Argon mess," the older User smirked, "Thought Beck told you to take it easy?"
"That was me taking it easy," Tron growled as the City named after him appeared around the bend.
He gave a low growl of pain and gripped the railing hard, like he was trying to steady himself. His knees trembled as he shook his head, as if he were trying to rid himself of a memory.
"Jack…" Beck warned, "Back away from him, slowly,"
Jack cocked his head and looked at the older Program.
A soft, yet building, low growl filled the air and continued to grow louder and more intense. Quorra woke up, looking at Beck, Flynn, and Jack and then at Tron. Her eyes widened and she stood in front of her son, drawing her Disk but not activating it.
Tron's light flickered violently between white and orange, he gripped the railing so hard Jack thought he'd break it.
"Tron," Flynn warned, "Control it, control him. Don't let him take over,"
The Program looked up at Flynn, blue eyes flickering orange for a moment before flashing back to blue. The growl stopped and Tron stumbled, throwing his arms out for balance.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"That…" Beck started as he helped his mentor get back his balance, "Was Rinzler trying to take over again,"
"A minor glitch, that's all," Tron dismissed, "I've got him under control,"
"Minor isn't how I'd describe it, Tron," Flynn growled, "This isn't good for you and you know it. One day, you might lose control and never get it back,"
"I know,"
"And then you might kill us all,"
"I know,"
"And CLU will have his greatest weapon back under his thumb,"
"I KNOW!" Tron yelled, startling Miko and Raf from their sleep, "Flynn, I don't want to go back to that. But until you can get that blasted code out of me, I'm stuck this way and I can't control when he tries to surface,"
"What happened?" Raf whispered, looking up at Jack.
"Rinzler almost made a guest appearance," the young Prime answered, "It's like he and Tron are fighting for control of the Program and at the moment, Tron's got in the lead. But Tron doesn't know when Rinzler will try again to get control,"
"Sounds familiar," Miko muttered.
"Who do you mean?" Jack asked, "I know two,"
"Dusk," Raf said while Miko answered, "Draconus,"
"You're both right," Jack whispered as Tron calmed down and resumed his watch, "But I doubt either of them hold a candle to Rinzler,"
He shuddered as he remembered the rooftop training session.
"It's not very fun," he finished.
"Everyone below deck," Tron ordered as they pulled into the station, "Welcome to Tron City,"
"What do you think are our chances of not being caught?" Raf asked as the group made their way through CLU's fortress.
"Very, very slim," Beck answered from behind his mask, his white armor glinting softly.
"Great," Jack sighed, "Certainty of death, small chance of success…what are we waiting for?"
"Sarcasm really doesn't fit you," Miko pointed out, earning her a dark glare from Jack, "How come you're the one with the full black mask? Raf's got a visor and I've got a clear blast shield. And I'm way more mysterious than you,"
Jack looked at her.
"Seriously?" he asked, "You've forgotten that quickly?"
Miko blushed deep red under the clear mask as the picture of right before they got captured by Knockout appeared in her mind. Jack with blades drawn and battlemask engaged as he dealt the pain to Knockout.
"Quiet and keep going," Tron said as they snuck through the hall.
"You know where we're going?" Miko asked.
Tron stopped, turning his blank mask towards her.
"I've resided here for many cycles," Tron growled, his light flicking orange for an instant before fading back to white, "I would know. The holding cells are down here,"
He gestured down a hall and started forwards again.
"Didn't know he was so touchy about it," Miko muttered.
"You kill pretty much all your friends under the control of a dictator…you see how you feel," Jack told her.
"Oh," she whispered, "I…I didn't know,"
"No one did," Tron said, turning his head to slightly look at her, "You should think before you speak, Miko Nakadai,"
"I'll work on it," she said sheepishly.
The veteran gave a nod and they all continued their trek, keeping a careful watch for CLU and his army. Or Defcon.
Raf gave a shudder, remembering the Program that battled Jack and nearly killed him.
But now was not the time to think of that.
"Stop," Tron ordered, kneeling and placing a hand on the floor.
Ghostly white footprints shimmered on the floor, entering a prison cell.
Raf's eyes brightened and he dashed forwards.
"RAF!"
"RAFAEL NO!"
He ignored them and attempted to open the door…but he wasn't strong enough to open it on his own.
Hands appeared above him and Raf looked up to see his grandfather, mother, and Beck all trying to shove the door away. With the might of all of them combined the door slowly slid open. They all went in…
It was empty.
"Maybe we've got the wrong room?" Miko suggested.
"No," Raf said stubbornly, "He was here!"
He fell to his knees, the light streaming out from his hands until blue painted up the circuits of the cell.
"He had to be here!"
"He was here," Quorra breathed, kneeling in a corner, "Look,"
She gently touched the wall where three symbols were carved with a Disk.
The female ISO symbol, the human male symbol and a very small male ISO symbol between them.
"Me, Sam, and Raf," Quorra whispered, touching each of the symbols.
"Where is he now?" Flynn asked, looking at Tron and Beck, "You two are system monitors, you have tracking abilities, use them,"
Tron turned to Beck and the younger Program nodded, kneeling and touching the floor. The ghostly footprints shimmered on the floor, looking dragged out in some places.
"They took him out of the cell…" Beck started, continuing the tracking, "And he put up a fight…"
There was a crunching sound and Beck froze looking down at the orangish cubes before stepping out of them, wincing as more crunching noises came from beneath his feet.
"Looks like they forgot about his skill with a Disk," he reasoned.
He turned back around, following the long strides between the footsteps.
"He got free and started running towards the entrance…"
The prints stopped abruptly and started to look very odd, some long and stretched out, some of them tiny scuff marks.
"They caught him again…but he didn't go willingly…"
Suddenly, the footprints stopped and there was a dragging trail.
"Until they knocked him out," Beck finished.
"Then we'd better go find him then," Quorra growled, starting forwards.
The others followed her closely, wandering through the fortress and following Sam's trail.
A low electronic growl pierced through the air and all in the group immediately turned towards Tron. But the Program's light was still soft white…although he did have his Disks out and ready.
Every head turned forwards to look down the hall, Jack gave a low hiss under his mask and out came his Disk, Quorra stood in front of Raf and Miko protectively.
For it was Defcon who stood before them, Disk in hand.
"Go," Tron ordered, his voice gravelly as he turned to Beck, "Take the children and go. Find the Son of Flynn. We'll keep him busy,"
Beck nodded, putting his hand on Raf's shoulder and turning him and Miko towards the opposite direction. Jack wouldn't budge, a low, metallic hiss ripping from the young Prime's throat.
"Jack," Tron ordered, "Go, take care of Rafael,"
Jack didn't move.
"You said you wanted to be a leader," Tron added, "Go and be one, lead your friends to find Rafael's father,"
Jack cocked his head and gave a reluctant nod, running to catch up with Raf and Miko with Beck trailing behind.
"Well, if it isn't Rafael Flynn," came CLU's voice from behind the group of four, "I should have known you would have showed up,"
Raf spun around, Disk in hand while Jack, Miko and Beck stood in front of him.
"Bring it Blues CLUs," Miko growled, Disk flashing.
Raf tried and failed to keep a smile off his face. Miko gave a grin while Beck and CLU looked at her confused. Before CLU's eyes narrowed.
"You don't know what you're dealing with," he growled.
A Disk came flying out of nowhere, CLU blocked it before it could derezz him. The Disk returned to Jack's hand.
"Get a clue, CLUless," Jack growled, "We've been through worse,"
And without further hesitation, the four attacked. Jack slashed at the dictator repeatedly, nearly taking off his head several times. CLU blocked him every time and kicked Jack in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards as CLU slashed a deep cut in Jack's forearm. The young Prime didn't stop, he kept coming back at the Program.
Miko made a flying leap, landing on CLU's back and yanking his head back so that he had a hard time moving but as she wasn't as durable as Jack, CLU quickly threw her off of him, sending her into the wall with a crash.
Beck and Raf worked together, Beck hitting high and using his training with Tron to keep his footing while Raf hit low, trying to trip CLU up.
CLU kicked Raf away and caught Beck by the throat, lifting him high.
"So…you're the Renegade," CLU growled, "Causing all sorts of trouble in Argon, haven't you?"
"You cut your visit short," Beck snarked, "Hope it wasn't because of me,"
"More like the lack of you," he snorted, "Too scared to show your own face…I'm surprised Rinzler didn't take care of you all those cycles ago,"
Beck's eyes narrowed under his mask as the memory resurfaced.
*Beck POV*
"Tron?" I asked, looking around the darkened hideout, "You here?"
There was no answer…just a low electronic growl.
"I got your message…where are you?"
A flicker of orange, the familiar 'T' insignia glowing faintly as a shape advanced.
"There you are," I sighed in relief, "What are…"
A Disk came hurtling at me, I dodged out of the way, flicking my own Disk out and turning the lights on. The figure in front of me looked like Tron…but wasn't…
"Tron?" I asked.
I got a growl from him as the Disk returned…the famed second Disk appearing in his hand. I had only seen him use it once…never again.
"TRON!" I yelled as he attacked me.
He had trained me, but his expertise very much outweighed mine. I was pinned quickly, his Disks under my throat.
"Please!" I yelled, "It's me! BECK!"
He groaned in pain, shaking his head as the lights flickered.
Suddenly, they turned white.
"Beck…go…" Tron's voice growled, straining, like he was holding back something in his Programing, "Don't…look…for me…can't…fight…you keep…the revo…lution…alive…"
I shook my head.
"Tron…"
"Beck! GO!" he finally yelled, getting off me and holding his head, "GO!"
I closed my eyes, trying to keep tears away and I ran…
Right as an orange Disk thudded into the wall where I had been, slashing my side.
*End Memory*
Beck's gaze hardened as a phantom pain lanced down his side where he still had the scar.
"Guess I'm just lucky," he finally growled.
"Your luck just ran out then," CLU scoffed, tossing the young Program to the ground and raising his Disk.
Two blue Disks slammed into CLU's own Disk, knocking it away from Beck.
"Get your hands off my apprentice," Tron hissed as his Disks returned to his hands.
"Ah, Rinzler," CLU smirked, "Long time, no see,"
Tron's circuits blazed as his grip tightened.
"I'm not your enforcer, not anymore," Tron growled, "Now, I'll repeat myself once more, get away from my apprentice and his friends,"
CLU's Disk lit up threateningly right as Flynn and Quorra showed up, their own Disks glowing dangerously.
The dictator glared hatefully at his User.
"I should have known you survived, Flynn," he growled.
"You want to be reintegrated again, I can gladly arrange that," Flynn snapped, "Get away from my grandson,"
A flash of fear went through CLU's eyes and he backed up.
"This isn't over, Flynn…any of you," he snarled, snapping his fingers and a host of Black Guards came to his call as he disappeared.
"Uh, CLU skadooed," Miko pointed out as Tron picked up Beck, "Maybe we should too?"
"Good idea," Flynn nodded and Flynn herded his family and friends out of the fortress.
"Did you find Dad?" Raf asked Quorra as they made it out.
"No," she whispered, "I'm sorry, Raf…we didn't. Defcon nearly killed us, we had to retreat,"
"So where to now?" Miko panted, "If we can't find Sam because of tall dark and creepy…what are we going to do?"
"We go to the portal," Flynn answered, "We get out and shut CLU down. We'll find Sam quicker if we don't have CLU and his goons to deal with,"
They all looked at the star-like portal as it flickered and wavered.
There wasn't much time.
Ok, so maybe I lied a little about having a showdown between Defcon and Tron. They did go fight him...just I couldn't give the fight justice. They're going to make a full on sprint for the portal, just to make sure they make it. There might be a chapter or two before the portal scene...and then I've got a MAJOR shocker for you! Oh and just to warn you...Rinzler might try to surface a few more times in the later chapters so watch out! See ya'll soon!
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please R&R! :)
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.
