Chapter 13: Escape

"I wouldn't bet on it."

Pulling out his disc Beck threw it upwards, vaguely in Pavel's direction.

Pavel laughed maniacally. "You weren't aiming for me, were you? I can now see why you're such a lowly mechanic–"

The sprinkler system suddenly activated, drenching every Program in the station. It wasn't the best as far as distractions went, but it still served its purpose.

Beck leapt up, catching his disc as it returned to him, and ran straight for the exit.

From the sounds behind him, Beck was guessing that Pavel had recovered quickly and that the water shock had only bought him a few extra nanos. But it was all that he needed. Dodging the guards, he forced a path to the exit with Pavel close behind. His baton was already in hand as he got out of the station, and he hit the street with his light cycle at full speed.

They gave chase, though he would have been more surprised if they hadn't. A telltale buzz warned him of an incoming disc and he dodged. But the sounds of the first had been masking the second, and as soon as he figured it out, he didn't move fast enough. The disc caught his arm, cutting deeply. He hissed in a breath, glancing down at the glistening exposure.

"I got him!" Pavel shouted triumphantly.

With light cycles that could hit higher speeds they were gaining on him, but Beck drew his disc unconcerned. He didn't want this hunt to be drawn out.

Let's finish this.

The guards weren't even ready with their discs when they pulled alongside him and he took the opportunity to slice away at vital parts of their vehicles. The light cycles veered, crumbling into nothing more than a pile of cubes.

That's what you get for going up against a mechanic.

Now he just needed to shake Pavel. The Program was already trying to derez him before drawing close enough. Avoiding the wild slash easily, Beck used his leg to kick away Pavel's ride as it came up beside his. With a frustrated cry, Pavel was forced to put his disc away in order to right his vehicle and take control of it again. Beck turned, already planning his route towards the highway. Pavel was viciously gaining.

"You'll pay for that, Mechanic!"

Pavel's slices were even more violent and less accurate when he pulled up the second time. Beck parried easily. Pavel's disc descended yet again, but Beck blocked it firmly, pushing it away from him as he leaned over towards Pavel's ride.

"What do you think you're doing?"

From the underside of the handlebar Beck was able to reveal some coding. Running his thumb along the code that controlled speed, he slowed Pavel's cycle to its minimum – around the same speed as his civilian cycle.

That should even things out.

He turned unexpectedly, losing Pavel for a moment before the Program was behind him again. But with a light cycle the same speed as his, Pavel wouldn't be able to overtake him anymore. The cry that came behind him was deranged.

"You'll regret all of this, Program! I will tear you apart bit by bit!"

I don't think so. Beck smirked as the highway came into view. He entered, knowing Pavel was still behind him. Not for much longer. He jumped off the overpass, landing in a lane going in a different direction, but he quickly corrected. He risked only one glance back to discover that Pavel had stopped, clearly furious. Making another lane jump he followed it into a different part of Argon City. It wasn't very long until he reached the outer limits and started streaking through the Outlands.

It was late in the cycle when Beck returned to the hideout. He was emotionally drained after saying goodbye to Zed and Mara, and his arm injury had him physically feeling less than great. He still had to report to Tron, though. Beck sighed. He was not up for a hefty discussion at the moment.

Tron was by the window when he got off the elevator.

"I got Mara and Zed on the train to Vanadium. I don't know if they'll stay there or keep moving away from Argon, but at least they're far from Pavel."

"You took a big risk helping your friends like that."

"They're my friends."

"As long as they're safe then."

"Another thing. Before they left, I had to tell them. About being the Renegade. It was the only way I could get them to leave without me."

Tron was silent for a while.

"So…You're not mad then?"

He sighed. "Even if I was, there's nothing I can do about it. You really need to stop telling Programs about your identity as the Renegade though."

"Zed and Mara were the last ones, I promise."

And there you go, making more promises you have no control over.

"How did you injure your arm?"

Beck automatically looked down at the injury.

"Pavel's disc. I should have seen it coming."

"Well, I only know a little more than basic healing, but I think I might be able to patch it up."

"Actually, I was going to get Paige to look at it."

"Paige?"

"Well, she was a medic."

"You never told me that."

"Really? I thought I did. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty tired. Calling it a cycle. Is there anything else we need to discuss?"

"No."

"Paige? As much as I love our impromptu fights, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't jump me right now."

"Beck?"

He watched as she entered the lounge from the opposite end, glass of energy in hand.

"You're back. What took you so long?"

"Bumped into that 'difficult co-worker' of yours."

Her eyes widened.

"Your arm." Setting down the glass, she hurried towards him. "Let me see that."

She gripped his arm firmly, examining the injury with a trained eye.

"Pavel did this to you?"

"Well, I didn't just trip and fall, if that's what you're asking."

"I'll need to access your disc."

He removed it from his back, holding it out to her.

"And you're not going to try to derez me?"

"What? No!" She looked shocked until she remembered what he was referring to. "Not funny, Beck." But she was smiling as she took hold of his disc.

"Same arm too."

"Hmm."

She was already busy going through his code, locating the damaged site and repairing it.

"There. Good as new." She handed him back his disc.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She turned around, fetching the glass of energy.

"You must be tired."

"A little, yeah."

"Here, take it," she set the glass on the low table in front of him. "I'll go get another one."

Sinking into a seat, he allowed himself to finally relax.

"Beck?"

He startled, finding Paige's brown eyes very close to his face as she leaned over him.

"Were you about to enter sleep mode?"

"Does it really matter now?"

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking–" she sounded flustered.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not mad. Just…surprised." He smiled, having never seen Paige look so nervous.

"Oh." She promptly sat down next to him, energy clutched a little too tightly.

She was acting like an idiot. Yet she had no explanation for her sudden awkwardness. She had simply stopped him from entering sleep mode in an uncomfortable position. It was a favour that simply needed returning. A strange buzz flowed through her circuits, thinking about Beck carrying her to bed. She needed to stop.

Beck was watching Paige carefully as she stared down at her drink. He could tell that she was looking but not processing the image in front of her.

"Paige?" He gently put his hand on her arm, just above her wrist.

"Have you been okay, staying here?"

She came out of the daze.

"What do you mean?"

If he had caught her at any other time, she would have given him a sarcastic quip involving the joys of imprisonment, but at the moment her thoughts were too scrambled.

"I never meant to hurt you Paige. And if you're unhappy staying here, I'm sorry. It's really all my fault that this happened. I'm sorry."

"I'm not…" She was unhappy with her situation, but then again she wasn't truly angry or distressed. She may have been confined to a limited amount of space, but she was certainly comfortable.

She looked at him then, really looked at him, and took in the genuine concern in his expression. Paige wasn't one to be easily moved. Yet time and time again, she found herself surprised by this one Program. He was loyal to his friends, to Tron and his cause, and somehow his devotion was hers as well. Hers – when she was, by all definitions, his enemy.

She remembered what he had told her as the Renegade. "I'm fighting for you, too." It hadn't been an act then. He had meant it sincerely, regardless of whether or not she chose to join him. He fought for what he cared for. He cared for her.

She sighed. Once she had been able to push him away. It hurt, but she was able to deny her feelings for the simple, yet impressive, mechanic. Once…

"Paige?"

She downed half her glass of energy is one go.

"You don't have to apologize. I understand. I should go to bed…"

As she moved to get up, Beck's hand grabbed hold of her wrist. He pulled her forward and suddenly his lips were on hers. As quickly as they were there, they were gone. She sat, stunned.

"Sleep well, Paige." And then he was walking towards the elevator.