Resurface
"Where's Beck?" Bohdi asked as he caught up to Zed and Mara.
"He's still at his shift. He said he'd meet us here when he finished." Mara didn't look up from the list as they walked.
"What do we need to do?" Bohdi looked over her shoulder at the list.
She glanced up to him, then back down, "Well, first we need to drop off these deliveries. Then, we'll wait."
"Just asking." Bohdi shrugged.
She ignored his comment, "First one goes to a program named Reznick."
"Oh! I know where he is! He should be…."
"Guys." Mara bumped into Zed's outstretched arm and looked up at his quiet voice. He was watching something with narrowed eyes. She turned to see the orange and her breath caught.
Occupation soldiers….
She had only heard about them, but never had she seen one. Yet their color and their reputation preceded them. This program wore a long cloak with the orange circuits and a mask….
And turned to look right at them.
The four held gaze for a long moment. The soldier did nothing, but tilted their head.
"…Back up." Zed whispered, "Back up slowly."
Mara glanced to Zed, then took one step back. When the soldier didn't react, she took another step, and Bohdi began to turn.
Then the soldier started towards them quickly.
"Go!" Zed pushed Mara and the three ran. The soldier went from a quick walk to a run after them. Zed glanced back as he and Bohdi brought up the rear.
"There!" Bohdi pointed to the garage and started towards it.
"NO!" Bohdi stumbled back as Mara pulled him back, "We can't go to the garage, we can't…"
"Then where do you suggest we go?" He exclaimed as she pulled him around the corner.
"Somewhere with no programs. Anywhere!"
Zed gave a firm push and they ran faster.
They rounded the corner and Bohdi turned, pulling out his disc. Zed and Mara stopped and turned, waiting for the soldier and waiting to help their friend.
But the soldier didn't round the corner. They didn't appear. The trio was alone.
Panting, Bohdi lowered his disc and turned to his friends. They silently nodded and he gave a small smile of relief.
Click
Click
The sound made the smile on Bohdi's face freeze. He glanced to Zed and Mara, Mara having giving a cry of fright at the apparent sudden appearance of the soldier.
He turned to see the soldier standing in front of them. Their disc was burning orange in their hand. The three pulled out their discs, but they knew it wouldn't be enough. The soldier raised their disc…
They fell to the ground with a grunt where a figure landed on top of them. They too, wore a mask, but he was recognizable by the three.
Beck scrambled off the soldier and to his feet as they got to their knees. The trio was forgotten and soldier and civilian's glares burned into each other. The soldier pushed off the ground, lunging. Beck managed to dodge, but the soldier met his disc with their own. With a grunt, the soldier kicked out and Beck's air left him in a gasp. He crumpled only slightly, but it was enough for the soldier to knock him off his feet, back hitting the wall. He grunted and struggled to sit up, but froze as the soldier stood above him, disc still in hand. They slashed down, and Beck gasped as he kicked out.
The glass in the mask shattered loudly and the soldier stumbled back, covering their face with one of their hands. Beck quickly got to his feet and lunged while the soldier was still off-guard. Their hands immediately went away from their face, gripping Beck's shoulders as they fell. They hit the ground, and the soldier used their weight to flip them around. They slammed Beck's back against the ground and laid their knee on his chest. The disc was immediately at Beck's neck and the remains of the soldier's mask fell away to show the burning glare of one eye, the other covered by hair, and a sneer that threatened death.
But Beck stopped, his gaze transfixed on the face. He knew that face…it was so long ago…they had been so young but….
"Paige?"
The soldier's expression paused, slowly forming into confusion.
Beck sat up as the soldier stood. She held her disc tight, but let him stand.
"Is it really you?"
"Who are you?" She was suspicious, and didn't drop her guard as Beck grew close. Rather, she took a couple steps back, holding up her disc in front of her, "Don't come any closer."
"Paige, it's me." He removed his mask quickly, "Beck."
Her visible eye narrowed as she held her position. "Beck…?"
He nodded, watching to see her reaction.
The disc clattered to the ground and he stumbled back slightly at the hug. However, he none the less didn't push her away.
"It's you! It's really you!" She broke from the hug, her eyes wide with a disbelieving smile on her face.
"It's great to see you!" He beamed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Me? What are you_"
"What's going on here?"
Beck turned not to the trio, but to Abel at the end of the alleyway.
"Come here, Abel! Come here, you guys!"
The four approached him, though the trio warily.
"You guys, this is Paige." He then proceeded to point to each program in order, "Paige, this is Zed, Mara, Bohdi, and Abel."
Abel approached and shook her hand, "Pleased to meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine." She smiled and shook the hand.
"Whoa! Hold on!" Zed exclaimed, stopping them, "Let me get this straight."
He gestures to Beck and Paige, "You know her. She knows you. And she's an Occupation soldier…she just tried to kill Bohdi, Mara, and I….and…everyone is okay with this?"
"Oh…" Paige shook her head, then gestured to her suit, "This…this is a long story. I promise I'm not here to invade Argon. It's just…just me."
"Just you?"
She nodded, "I came from Tron City."
"That far?" Abel remarked, then looked to Beck, "Is that where you're from?"
"Yes." Paige answered for him, "We grew up together. Until…" She shook her head, pushing away the thought, "Wait until everyone finds out you've been here all this time!" She stopped, then looked to him, "And your mother…what will she think?"
Beck's smile faded and his gaze flicked down, "She doesn't have to know. N-Nobody needs to know."
"Well, of course they do! Everyone thinks you're dead."
Everyone immediately looked to her, "What?"
Beck's brow furrowed, "They do?"
She nodded, her eyes dimming, "CLU told us about the stampede."
"Really?" He looked away, "What…what else did he tell you?"
"What else matters?" She looked up to him, "You're alive!"
She paused and realization dawned on her face.
"And that means….you're the Grid's Monitor."
It was silent for a moment as the news hung in the air.
Then Bohdi broke the silence, laughing.
"Lady, have you got your programs crossed." He leaned against Beck, "He'd have to be the son of Tron to be the next Monitor. He's a mechanic!"
"Bohdi…" Abel warned.
"Well…about that…" Beck started.
"Wait." Paige cut both programs off, looking to Beck, "You didn't tell them?"
"Tell us what?" Mara crossed her arms, her confusion becoming frustration.
"I am…Tron's son." Beck finished and everyone was silent again.
"…A Monitor?" Bohdi finally exclaimed.
"No."
"Beck!" Paige exclaimed at his reply.
"No I'm not. I might've been…but I'm a mechanic now. That was a long time ago."
"You mean you were a Monitor this whole time…?" Zed questioned, "And you never told us?"
"I'm still the same program." Beck turned to Zed.
"But with power!" Bohdi called, then muttered, "No wonder you always beat me in the disc games…"
"Could you um…" She glanced to either side of her, "Could you excuse us for a moment?"
"Look, whatever you say to him, you can say in front of us." Zed insisted, "Right, Beck?"
Beck pursed his lips and awkwardly sighed, "Um…Maybe you better go."
"He's right." Abel added, and crossed to the trio. He grabbed a shocked Bohdi by the arm and led him away, "Come along."
Zed and Mara followed, and Bohdi glanced back in shock before the four of them disappeared around the corner.
Beck sighed with a smile, shaking his head, "Those four. You learn to love them."
He turned to Paige, and his smile faded when he realized she had turned away from him, hiding her face as she crossed her arms.
"What is it?" He came to her side, hand on her back.
"It's like…it's like you're back from the dead." She whispered, then turned to look up at him, "You don't know how much this will mean to everyone…." She averted her gaze, her hand straying as she had reached up to touch him, "…How much it means to me."
He gave a soft smile, taking her hand, "Hey, its okay…."
"I've really missed you." She said quietly as he pulled her into a hug.
He rested his chin on top of her head, "I've missed you too."
They stayed that way for the longest time, nothing being said between them. Finally, Beck removed his chin and looked down to her.
"Let's go inside. I'm sure Abel can find a room for you." He put a hand at the top of her back, just below her disc, above the cloth of the cloak.
She looked up to him, "…I would like that."
In the next Mylacycle to pass, Paige became an ordinary part of the mechanics' lives. Despite her Occupation exterior, many found her to be even-tempered, friendly, and willing to help wherever she was needed. She even began to help repairing engines.
When the work cycle would end, she and Beck would walk off. Sometimes with the company of Zed, Mara and Bohdi, and sometimes by themselves. Paige talked about their memories together and what all had happened. Beck never talked about how he ended up in Argon, despite how many times she had asked, but rather talked about his own memories within the city.
It was near the end of the Mylacycle when they had decided to stop for a drink. They stopped at the 10001 club and took a small booth in the corner. As they were given their drinks, Paige watched as, yet again, she had hesitated before sipping some of the energy. But that's not what was on his mind.
So many things to tell her. I want to tell her about…maybe she'd understand…
No. She'd never forgive me for what I did. I don't want that.
"Beck?" His thoughts broke and he looked up to Paige.
"Are you alright?"
He nodded, taking a drink of his own energy.
As he put the cup down, a smile made its way onto his face as an idea entered his mind.
He began to stand, "Come on. There's something I want to show you."
She glanced up to him, but followed, taking his hand.
"Do you have a jet?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Where we're going, you're going to need it."
He took off and jumped. The baton broke in his hands and he soared into the sky. He looked back and Paige was following him up into the air. He banked left and headed towards the road that led out of the city. He neared the top of an entryway and as he grew close, he returned the jet to baton and landed with a roll. Paige grunted as she followed his lead, and he turned back to make sure she was alright.
"Welcome," he started towards the edge, "to the best seat in town."
"Whoa…" She neared the edge and sat down, legs dangling over the edge, "This is incredible."
He watched her for a moment, smirking, before sitting down next to her.
"I'm glad you think so."
He watched the skyline, smile fading slightly.
"….re you alright, Beck?"
Beck was brought back when a hand touched his. He looked to see Paige was watching him. He felt himself grow warm when he looked to her. He had felt this feeling around her a couple times already….
"I must be getting sick."
"Why do you say that?"
"I…" he laughed, "It's a little dumb…but I keep growing warm, probably warmer I should be. Especially…especially around you."
She smiled, laughing slightly, "Oh no, you're not sick."
"No?"
She shook her head.
"Then what is it?"
"I think you know. You and I both know."
He looked down to their clasped hands, then up to her. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, then tried again.
Paige solved it for him. She leaned in, pulling him close, and their lips met. His eyes flew wide open, but he didn't stop her. She touched his arm, and the circuits there turned a violet color.
They broke apart at this. Beck looked down to where Paige removed her touch to see the violet beginning to fade back into blue. He looked up to her, taking her hand. Her gaze went from the ground to him and her fear disappeared at his soft smile. She took his hand tight and squeezed it.
At that, Beck pulled her in close to him. His arms covered her and her arms wrapped around his midriff. He looked down to her, her head leaning into his chest.
So this is what it felt like. He had only seen these looks, when his mother and father would gaze at each other, or when Zed watched Mara. He'd be certain that if someone was watching them now, they'd say he has the same look when looking to Paige.
So this is love, after all.