These Hopeful Machines
Terrorized screams filled the city. Citizens torn from their homes and forced into prison lines and lead to detainment cells. Some screamed, others shouted in retaliation for their unlawful handling, a few glared in hatred at the towering orange guards. No longer were they going through the subtleties of abducting Programs from isolated regions, that time had past. Programs had been confused when they came to the train stations to find the area closed off. Roads and express ways to other cities blocked off.
Mara kept himself to the shadows as she helplessly observed the horde of sentries escorting the captured Programs.
"This is barbaric," Perl's voice called over the radio.
"We need to make a plan. This is exactly why we're here isn't it?" Link asked.
"Form up around the intersection. We'll smoke out the road and sneak our way with the hostages to the northern alleyway. If we time it right, there will be a gap in the patrol," Perl commanded.
"Move!" she barked after everyone had made it into position. Smoke containers exploded around the intersection.
"Move out! Don't let them-" the sentry was cut off as a boot collided with his face, sending him flying into a group of guards. Their training was paying off. Tactically precise, the portion of the Defiance working under Gav and Perl had quickly dispatched threat to the Argon prisoners and successfully escorted them into the alley. Next, the Programs were on their way through the tunnels to the coliseum.
"Go on princess," Zed motioned for the skittish Program to get moving up the ladder.
"Another group dropped off," he called over the comms.
"I see them, good job," Gavistan called from the command center in the press box.
"You sure you don't want to be out here Gav?" Perl asked, already making her way out to round up another group.
"It's not that I don't want to be out there, but it's best to stay here and watch over the operations," he responded.
Mara wished she could join in their excitement, or at least put the fact that Tron had been captured out of her mind.
"We'll get him back," Zed reassured, reading her mood with ease.
Ever since Wardog had returned, the Defiance had been in a frantic mess trying to figure what their next move was going to be. Using the hideout's advanced monitoring equipment, they had kept track of Tron's position. The Specialists figured it a show of force that Dyson took no effort in trying to hide Tron's detainment.
With the Defiance's biggest chess piece gone, the Occupation took to the streets of Argon with no remorse. Any former attempts of covert home invasion were ceased.
"We can't keep doing this," the cyan haired mechanic muttered, her head swimming from the lack of sleep.
"What else can we do? We have a few people resting so we can keep the rescue missions going," Zed replied, equally as exhausted.
"But we're not enough! We need more people,"
"And that's exactly what's happening. Everyone we save is a potential recruit. Someone to help us fight,"
"They're untrained. We can't use them to fight something they're not prepared for,"
"Mara, Zed. We have a group coming to help you," Perl informed over the radio.
"Another? But everyone is already out," Mara questioned.
"This is a group from the Programs rescued. Volunteers,"
"See? We already have some coming around!" Her boyfriend encouraged as he watched the group of new resistance members coming to meet up with them.
"Yeah, but they'll just get in the way," Mara uttered darkly before stomping off.
"She didn't mean that," Zed eased to the confused Programs, "Let's go and help some people, eh?" he proposed with heart as he headed toward the grate that lead to the maze of the underground tunnels and sewers.
Hours went by. The Defiance, restless and exhausted, still out to save as many Programs as they could manage. Some of those saved were brave enough to join the Defiance and help free others, allowing some of the renegades to get some much needed rest.
So far, they had saved a couple hundred. A high number at first glance, but in comparison to how many thousands that were in Argon, it meant nothing. It was hopeless thinking. Numbers never added up in their favor. The Defiance had a few dozen, while the Clu had hundreds of thousands. It was a thought that had run along each member's mind. How could someone not think it?
Dyson had taken advantage of that fact. His tactical use of resources, pushing the Defiance into repetitive action so they couldn't rest their forces. Being stretched thin and overworked lead to mistakes. Close and risky calls had been made, but no one other than Tron had been captured, a miracle from Flynn himself. But it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out.
"Mara… we can't keep going," Zed wheezed out, his body drained. The pair had just come back from retrieving another group of captured civilians. It had went well, saving another three dozen, but walking through the tunnels, Zed had nearly blacked out. They both slept a cycle and a half ago, so he knew she was feeling the same. Whether it was anger or determination keeping her on her feet, he wasn't quite sure. Little of column A, little of column B.
"And leave those innocent Programs to be turned into mindless soldiers?" she all but snarled at him, her eyes alit with hatred and frustration. Zed froze in his boots. The last time he had seen her like this was when she was influenced by the gas. Which explained her determination for the others. The loss of control over herself, she had mentioned once how it had scared her. She had no way of stopping herself, she would have killed him had it not worn off in time.
"No! But what hap-"
"Then we keep going!" she bellowed over him.
"Mara," he reached out for her but she slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch-"
The slap deafened the area. People milling about the coliseum arena froze and stared in wonder. He hand't noticed Perl approach, nor had Mara apparently. The bright red mark on Mara's cheek seemed to shine brightly against her skin and coincide with her shock.
"Get over yourself," Perl growled, "Tron told you to toughen up. Yet you're still acting like a child. This is war. You can't save everyone, how many times will we have to tell you before you learn?" Pure disgust spit from Perl's lips. Zed edged closer to Perl expecting Mara to lung at the girl, but instead she crumpled to her knees and started to sob.
"…It's not fair…" she managed to say out. Perl scoffed and started to briskly walked off.
"Nothing in life is fair," And directed to Zed, "Make sure your Princess gets some sleep," Before she was out of earshot.
Zed wasted no time in doing just that. Nearly dragging his girlfriend to the sleeping area of the makeshift barracks. He tried to reassure her as they went, doing his best to keep her from hysterics.
Sigh.
This was the girl he had fallen in love with. A handful, but so was he. Finally managing to coax her to sleep, he made his way to find Perl. He hoped that the other two Specialists had made a suitable plan for Tron's rescue. As he expected, they were in the command room, both looking as in bad of shape as he.
"How is she?" Gavistan asked, not looking up from the hologram of the metropolis area.
"She'll be better after some sleep," Perl still held some resentment from earlier in her rigid pose and cross expression.
"She better," she snapped before softening her words to a near whisper, "Really miss the Commander right now," she commented gently.
"Did you guys manage a plan to rescue Tron?" the two looked at each other. Zed felt the rings under his eyes as he looked at the others'.
"We have an idea... but it's suicidal. We're open to suggestions," Gavistan looked up with his lips pulled up. The grin fell away as fast as it came. Sleep deprivation did funny things to people.
"Haven't had a coherent thought since we started," Zed joked as he sat down by Perl. Her eyes had shut and she didn't stir when his butt connected to his seat.
"I think we need to start shifts for us,"
"Not it," Perl said quickly.
"NOT IT!" Zed followed, his fuzzy mind not realizing she was joking. Uncontrolled laughter broke out. Perl nearly falling over as Gav leaned heavily against the table.
It went on for a few solid minutes. The stress leaving their bodies with each laugh. A much needed respite for all of them.
"You guys get some sleep. I'll make sure that the Defiance keeps going," Gavistan said when they had calmed.
Zed hesitated, checking over the alternatives, finding none. Gav was the only one of value at this point, the soldier training proving to help him. Perl on the other hand had already stood and found the bed against the wall and made herself comfortable.
"You could go down to our barracks. Better beds," Gav noted dryly. One pink eye stared at him with the 'You must be kidding' expression.
"Right, right, stubborn," Zed heard from Gav before he exited.
A budding relationship.
Only a couple petros passed when Perl started to wake. Gavistan looked over from the map and watched as she stretched her arms over her head and sat up.
"What?" She asked, catching him staring. He blinked the haze away and directed his attention back to the map. If he had the energy he'd be blushing.
"Nothing, just... tired," he excused.
"Well, I'm up," she presented with standing up and walking over to him. "Go ahead and get some rest," she suggested sweetly.
When had she gotten so close? She smelled nice, and his mind was refusing to listen to his commands to focus on the map.
"I'm fine," he managed without sounding exhausted, only tired. He couldn't move to look at her, but he could feel her glower digging into his back. "Go ahead and-"
His voice got stuck in his throat when he felt her hands run up the back of his head and stroke his hair.
"C'mon tough guy. You need sleep too," His arms started to fail him, slowly he watched with blank interest as the map came closer. His mind was solely concentrated on the blissful sensations of her fingers combing his hair.
Without his knowledge, he let out a low groan that sounded oddly like purr.
"Am I interrupting?" A new voice called from the entrance.
The two started and looked towards the new comer. She was recognized instantly.
"You're back," Gav stated the obvious, noticing the Program standing behind Paige. She walked in and quickly observed the two's exhausted state.
"We stopped at Tron's hideout. The girl there said to come here for a full synopsis of the situation,"
"We?" Perl asked looking over her shoulder at the spiky haired Program behind her.
"Name's Beck," he introduced himself by stepping out, "Also known for being the Renegade," he remarked nonchalantly.
"Beck?" Another Program said from the doorway. Everyone turned to find Link with his eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"Yo-You're back! I need to t-tell the others!" he exclaimed before anyone could stop him from running off.
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Perl looked to Gav who slumped back to his chair.
"No. We need a morale boost. And who better than the Renegade himself," The radio cracked to life as the voices of excited chatter came through.
"Beck's alive?"
"That's not possible. Tron said he was dead!"
"Honest! I saw him with Paige! He's back! He's alive!"
"That was fast," Beck noted with a smile.
"Well, you can take care of things right?" Perl asked without waiting for an answer. She proceeded to drag Gavistan from his seat, towing him towards the exit. "These two are well rested. They can take it over from here," she explained to a protesting Gav.
"They need to know about Tron," his words froze the room.
Beck's mind raced. What had happened to him? He couldn't have been derezzed. Not when Beck had just come back. Was it a cruel fate against them? One couldn't exist while the other did?
"He's been captured by the Occupation,"
In hindsight, Beck would have understood that any answer besides 'He's fine, just sleeping downstairs' would have made his stomach lurch in that sickening twist of distraught pain. After he recycled the words and understood them better, he eased. That's when he noticed Paige's hand gripping his arm in a vice hold. Her expression seemed to capture all the stomach rolling feeling he had just felt. In that single moment he found something he hated as much as Clu. And he hoped that in all his power, he could keep Paige from ever showing it again.
"We've been trying to make a plan to save him, but Dyson isn't a fool. He has everything covered. Nothing we come up with doesn't involve losing a majority of our people and with little hope of saving Tron. Right now, he's at the main Occupation base at the edge of Argon's downtown. Rinzler on his 24/7 surveillance," Perl stated, "All the information we have is on the desk. Hopefully you two can make something up," she mentioned before shuffling off with Gav securely held in her arms.
"Let me be the first to welcome you back to the Uprising," Paige said before examining the data upon the main table.
"Thanks," he said as he began looking at other files on a different screen, "I wonder if I should make an announcement," He said looking back to the radio on the wall next to the window overseeing the arena.
"I don't see why not. Go for it, Renegade," she teased, giving him a playful shove. His lips moved up to show a brilliant smile. User, she'd never get tired of it.
She watched as he picked up a radio and pressed the switch on.
"Attention Defiance," the chatter that had filled the open channels quieted. Paige couldn't help but watch transfixed. Something about him always took on a different aura when he turned serious. He never did things with half hearted effort, always looking towards the goal with full minded determination. As he did with her. The thought flowed through her. She had his full attention, full devotion.
It was odd. Feeling complete with someone else. When not too long ago, she was utterly incomplete that nothing made sense. She smiled as he looked over at her with a questioning glance.
This world...
She laughed silently at the thought. How had one Program come along and changed everything?
The Users themselves would be jealous.
"This is the Renegade. For the mechanics I've worked with, you know me as Beck. What Link has been telling people is true. I've come back to Argon. My fight with Clu isn't over, and I'm back to finish the fight,"
"I've heard about Tron. We will rescue him. I promise you that. This is our Defiance. Together we will stand against Clu and his corrupted reign over the Grid. We fight for the System. For the Users. And for all of the Programs!"
There was silence as they waited, unsure if he was done speaking or not. When the first cheer came, the rest flooded over the radio and could be heard throughout the coliseum. Hope has been restored to the Programs of freedom. If the Renegade had traversed death and back, then nothing was out of his, and subsequently their, reach. It was only a matter of how.
"Mara,"
"Ugh," she responded, but it came out as more a growl.
"Mara," The voice became more persistent.
"What Zed? I thought you were the one who wanted me to sleep," she grit out. If she hadn't found the one comfortable spot on the cot she would have gotten up and strangled him.
"Mara, it's important. You need to get up!" he hissed urgently. His hand pressed into her shoulder and gave her a nudge. That did it.
"What Zed! For User's sake, you were the one who was forcing me to go to sleep," She looked to her wrist and found that she was near her two hour mark, "Oh. Sorry, I guess I didn't realize it was-"
"That doesn't matter. We need to get up to the command room," He looked like he had seen a ghost. His skin seemed whiter, but at the same time, he looked elated. Excited but in disbelief.
"Alright," she stood and stretched her limbs. She felt better, more coherent at the least, but her whole being clearly cried out for more rest. "Can you tell me what's going on now?" as they started to walk.
"Beck's back,"
The door to the command room swished open letting the two mechanics walk in. Programs bustled about in activity, checking scanners, looking at holograms of Argon city area, blueprints of plants, making notes before giving their findings to the Program at the center of it all.
Beck leaned over the table as he inspected different angles of the cargo and shipping dock area closest to Argon's core. He thanked the Programs who delivered new information which he added to another map that showed a majority of Argon's city area. This map showed the buildings in wireframes and the horde of warships floating above. Their red and orange light casting onto people's faces as they walked nearby.
His friends stared in disbelief. He was there, as if he hadn't left. Running the Defiance as originally intended.
Paige, standing next to the revived Renegade, noticed the two and motioned Beck's attention to the two. Their eyes met and everything felt surreal to the mechanics. Paige gave him a slight push while directing all the Defiance members to give her the information.
It was awkward as he approached. He had a sheepish smile, a hand rubbing the back of his neck. Zed looked on with a slack jaw, while Mara had her hands over her mouth and tears unabashedly running down her cheeks.
"Hey guys," Beck greeted. As he expected, Mara bolted and hugged him furiously, weeping silently. The boys looked at each other, knowing smiles on their faces. And with it, everything seemed to be sorted. They had been given one of their friends back.
"Welcome back," Zed said, the strength of his emotions threatening to overtake his voice.
"Thanks, Zed," He replied while petting Mara's head. "Missed you guys,"
"So did we. Where have you been?"
"Long story, I'll tell you when things calm down," There was a comfortable pause.
"I hear you two are together now," Beck smirked as his friend looked away with redden cheeks.
"Paige told you huh?"
"Bout time,"
"Oh shut up! You weren't any help back then!" Beck laughed.
"That's cause you had to man up and tell her,"
"Didn't mean you couldn't give me advice!" Zed protested.
"Me? I haven't dated anyone before! Bodhi was the only one of us who did that,"
"And?"
"And?" Beck asked incredulously.
"I'm sure he gave you tons of advice. You two were like brothers!"
The two were interrupted by Mara's laughter. She stepped away from Beck and smiled, her tears having stopped earlier.
"Oh you two," she said wiping the wetness from her eyes.
"What do you think? Should I have helped?" Beck asked. Mara gave it some thought before answering.
"I don't think it would have mattered. He wouldn't use it. Mr. Timid over here," she teased her boyfriend.
"Me? He was the one who didn't even talk to girls!" Zed pointed at Beck hotly.
"By choice. I wasn't looking for that," He defended himself, "But the fact that you managed to talk to Perl was pretty brave," Zed waved that off.
"Doesn't count,"
"What are you doing here?" Mara asked, steering the conversation toward the business of the command room.
"I'm having everyone update our information on the city and Tron's location. Hopefully, I can come up with something then,"
"Do you have any ideas yet?" Zed questioned.
"I do," Beck said rubbing his chin and looking thoughtful, "I just need to make sure on somethings before I decide it's time to make a move,"
"What can we do to help?" Mara volunteered energetically.
"Get some rest. I have most of the Defiance resting up. These are mostly Programs you guys saved so it shouldn't be a problem. Once I'm sure of the plan, I'm going to scout out the area myself, see if I can get a feel for Dyson's forces,"
Mara and Zed gave each other look.
"Will you be okay by yourself?"
"I'll have Paige with me. I'll be fine," Beck reassured the couple.
Zed grumbled. "The last time you two were out with her, you got derezzed,"
"Funny, Zed," Mara elbowed him.
"Trust me. She has my back," His friends just gave him a hopeless look.
"Of course we know that Beck. She's our friend too," Mara said gently, making Beck's eyebrow rise. He had forgotten that Mara and Paige had gotten closer while he was gone. His two- no, three worlds had collided. The Renegade, Beck the Mechanic, and… the other Beck. The one that only came out when he was with Paige. He wasn't sure how long it'd take for him to get used to it.
"She loves you too much anyway," Zed noted as if it was painfully obvious.
"Aww, look who's still shy about his first girlfriend," Mara teased, pinching Beck's blushing cheeks.
He smacked her hand away and gave his best glower, coincidentally learned from Paige.
"Oh look, he's trying to imitate her now. He's whipped," Zed whispered to Mara conspiratorially.
"Well she did manhandle him. He's probably afraid of her still," Mara whispered back.
"Hey!" Beck protested before the three broke into laughter.
"I should probably get back to it. The faster we get Tron back, the faster we can stop Clu," he grew serious once they had all calmed. His friends nodded.
"We'll make sure to rest up for the right time. IT's good to have you back Beck," Mara said deeply.
"And next time," Zed started with a smirk, "Tell us when you're a superhero saving the Grid on your own,"
"Superhero? You didn't have that impression the last time I heard you talking about the Renegade," Beck called after their retreating figures.
"Yeah well, that was before I knew you were the next Tron," Zed shouted back as he and Mara rounded a corner.
There it was again. Someone else calling him Tron, equating him to Tron's ability. Had Flynn not said it, he'd still be hard pressed to deny the notion. Now, he was only soft pressed to deny. He'd have to talk to Tron about it. But for now, he could at least work harder to match his mentor's level of effort.
The Renegade turned and found his lovely medic glaring at him with dangerous eyes.
What? He asked in his head.
You are working plenty hard, Mechanic. She looked back down to the map.
He wasn't sure if he had truly heard her in his mind or just imagined the whole thing.
Must be my imagination.
You wish. Her voice echoed. He looked at her and found her steadily working, but made a few glances at him out of the corner of her eye. He swallowed nervously. This was going to be interesting.
Dyson looked blankly at the video feed of Tron. They would have to transport him back to Tron City soon along with all the other Programs from Argon. Keeping his securely restrained would present his largest challenge. Crippled, he wasn't a problem, but as a fully restored form of himself he was capable of almost anything. It was a wonder how the MCP managed to contain him before Flynn's arrival. He was thankful for Rinzler's presence. He alone could hold the great savior of the Grid for a long period.
He drummed his fingers slowly against the table. His mind raced to devise a suitable plan. Keeping him sedated seemed like the best option.
The door to his office slid open and Rinzler's purr could be heard. Dyson turned his chair and regarded the System Monitor with open inquiry, letting the Program hand him a tablet of surveillance. More Programs being rescued by the Defiance was all the device had to offer him, and it didn't surprise him. The sentry's reports had already reached his attention. A few losses had been irrelevant. The Defiance could have a few useless Programs, it would exhaust them further and lead to mistakes. Mistakes he could use to destroy them.
"Rinzler, I'm sure you've analyzed their movement and patterns. Spread what you've found to the Black Guards and see if they can kill these annoying pests. I want you to watch over Tron continually. Is that understood?" Dyson ordered, sneering near the end. The mute Program simply nodded and walked out.
Clu's pet had been a blessing and a curse. He was a perfect soldier. Intelligent enough to make decisions for himself about how to execute plans, and obedient enough to not question orders. Being mute was a bonus to Dyson as well, silence was hard to find in minions. Most loved to question orders because they were too stupid to understand them, let alone the bigger picture.
But what usually came with intelligence was disobedience. That lesson was painfully taught when Tron had been rescued in the beginning. Of course his scouts had turned up evidence of the lone sentry who asked too many questions. Somehow he had retained his mind through the repurposing.
Dyson sneered at no one in particular. Repurposing. Such a horrible necessity. It reduced the Program's intellect so drastically, what was the point of doing it at all if an army of a thousand could be beaten by a thinking group of ten? Oh, he understood the need. Undying loyalty was hard to come by. Manipulation was a very precise art, mistakes could rarely be tolerated by the manipulator to have success. Commander Paige and Pavel were prime examples. Though, Dyson wondered why Tesler kept Pavel around. He was utterly useless. But the General had done a good job of keeping the two on a short leash, Dyson actually admired his skill. It was incredibly demanding to accomplish, even more difficult to find the opportunity. Many Programs were too isolated, most weren't worth the effort. It seemed the more convivial Programs were, the smarter. As evident of Tron's former task force.
Which all came back to questions circling Rinzler. How had Clu made such a perfect soldier? Was it simply because he was a System Monitor? No. A System Monitor made by Flynn, given powers that no other Programs had. Maybe that gave Clu certain capabilities to play with Anon's code. Curiouser and curiouser…
"Commander?" He called after pressing for the radio.
"Yes sir," The flat tone of one this former comrades answered.
"Take a few squads and make sure our prisoner is secure. Rinzler will be with him,"
"Yes sir," The monotone voice answered before the line died. Dyson sighed. At least his former squad was still semi competent after the repurposing.
"Keep moving," one of the faceless sentries growled. The Programs cowered in fear at the baton's end lit up in color. Seconds later, smoke began filling up the narrow urban street. Occupation drones spread out in predicable fashion. Grunts and bodies collapsing filled the smoke with their distraught noises. Closer and closer the unseen force came, as the sounds of more Programs continue to close around the remaining standing sentries. Eventually there was only one left. The sound of his panicked breathing filling his helmet. The prisoners long forgotten.
"You know…" a distorted tone called from the fog, "My friend was derezzed by a baton just like that one," the voice drawled menacingly. The sentry, with fear filling his veins, threw his weapon and pulled his disc out.
"Well that wasn't too bright. You had a better chance with your baton,"
It sounded like he was right on top of him. The soldier took a step back and felt himself bump into something tall. He flipped around like a madman and slashed the... light post minding its own business. Sparks sparked to life and death before the pole toppled over. He attempted to relax but when he looked back to the remains of the pole, he found a white armored Program.
"Boo,"
"How's it looking out there, Renegade?" A familiar voice called over the radio.
Beck, and his boyish attitude, couldn't help his response as he raised his wrist to his mask.
"Aww, come on Paige, it's just you and me. You don't have to keep calling me that,"
She made a grunting growl.
"But I get it. Old habits die hard," he teased. His reward was a tired sigh.
"Be- Renegade. We went over this-"
"I can't recall,"
"-It's better to use our code names incase the Occupation manages to figure out our frequency,"
"..."
"But Doctor is... not you,"
"Medic will do just fine,"
"Should I say it more as a pet name or-"
"Codename. Last thing I need is Mara and Zed hearing you,"
"Are you embarrassed seen talking to me? Medic,"
"Fine. You win,"
"Beck. How is it going?"
"I'm doing well, how are you Sweetie?"
Paige banged her head against the table, Beck's laugh over the radio.
"Everything is going well. I'm sending another group through the tunnels," she lifted her head as he paused.
"I think they're wrapping up their patrols. Most of the city is empty. I think this is our opportunity to go for Tron,"
"Wouldn't all of Dyson's troops be at the base?"
"It's when he'd least expect it. I have a plan,"
"Okay. I'll get everyone ready. You're sure about this?" His girlfriend double checked him.
"Yes," his voice gave her chills.
One word, but a thousand meanings behind it. Raw determination and controlled bravery. Not fearless, as an arrogant leader would be. There was courage to face the fear.
To understand what was at stake and to not let fear define your decisions, only nudge them. Fear was no more harmful than Pride, too much and it controlled, too little and it lead to blind actions.
Balance is needed. Like in all things. Beck had come to that balance.
The balance of a hero.
All by how he said yes.
Dyson watched over the operation before him. In a modified carrier ship high above the sea. Escorted by dozens of Recognizers, Light Copters, and other highly armed flying vessels. Down below hundreds of Programs were escorted into tightly packed shipping units. Filled cargo units were hoisted up by a crane with a massive electromagnet and lifted to the freighter. Three different cranes were in use on the western side of the Solar Sailer to load the potential soldiers onto it.
In a few pectros, the whole operation would be complete and they could set off. After bombing and glassing the whole city of course.
The icy administrator walked through the carrier as he lazily watched his subordinates monitor the progress of the scouts and patrol groups. Tanks and Recognizers rolled around a three kilometer radius centered around the Solar Sailer with a virtually unlimited amount of resources and numbers. If someone asked Dyson if it was over kill, he'd probably respond by having one of the many tanks derezz them.
Search lights from helicopters crept up on dark corners, exposing the inner contents hidden from the world. Their peering gazes always turned up nothing. Which meant one of two things: Nothing was going to happen, which was highly unlikely, or the opponent was waiting for the right time to strike. And knowing his opponent, Dyson predicted it was the calm before the storm.
He waited with baited breaths for the Defiance. HIs fist clenched as he envisioned their demise by his hand. The satisfaction rolled off the idea and he felt the eagerness take him.
"Report," he commanded briskly when he reached the helm of the bridge.
"Tank battalions report no activity and their scans have picked up nothing. Recognizers and Light Copters have found run away Programs, none of which have any sign of being with the resistance,"
"Did you detain these Programs?" Dyson asked looking over at the formal looking advisor.
"Yes sir. We sent out groups to capture the strays. Their discs have no memory of working with the Defiance,"
"Good. Proceed,"
"Reconnaissance reports sightings of groups of gangs in the docks to the East. No sign of affiliation. I had scouts pull back. No need to waste soldiers on the small group only to have them derezzed,"
Not bad… but Tron alone was able to start an Uprising. Even lowly things can be a thorn if not properly dealt with.
"I want a fighter squadron to bomb the area. Then have scouts dispose of any survivors. I won't be letting some hoodlums becoming an issue later,"
"Right away," the man went to his officers standing at the ready and issued out the orders.
I thought we had already cleansed that gang out of the docks… Dyson recalled. His sentries had reported back with the all clear. Sentries were highly reliable at times. Or maybe a rival gang had taken up the area… Possible, but unlikely, it had only been a cycle, not even.
Why then…
"Sir," the advisor's voice broke him from his reverie.
"Continue, Captain,"
"Other reports from the scouts show activities in the tunnels on the far eastern area. Data obtained from Tesler's ship say that it's where the Argon Race would take place,"
"There's nothing out there but waste tunnels. I doubt it's the rebellion…" The officer waited patiently.
"Send a squadron of Black Guards to eliminate whatever they find. No discretion," A nod was the officer's answer.
"The rest of the reports are not worth noting,"
"In any case, leave the information with me. Leadership is not maintained with carelessness,"
"Sir," the officer saluted before leaving the pad on a nearby table.
What are you planning…
An hour after the last report, the officer returned.
"Update, General. Bombing on the dock was successful. Scouts reported no survivors out of the twelve identified bodies. The tunnels were a diversion. The guards reported a group of escaping Programs. They were cornered but they took their own lives by jumping off a ravine,"
Hmm… No discs… all hearsay from the soldiers.
"The guards, did they check the ravine for disc?"
"Yes, only one was recovered,"
Oh… perhaps I'm wrong on my assumptions.
"Let me see it,"
"One moment," the officer retreated from the room and returned handing the disc over, "I reviewed the memories personally, it seems the Program is another stray from the city," Dyson skipped through the memories reviewing up to a week prior. It was a Program freed from one of the Defiance ambushes, managing to run away from the guards but not helped by the Uprising.
An odd coincidence…
"I see," Dyson stated dully, "Have the disc disposed of after the information has been extracted," the officer left with another salute. Dyson watched he leave from the corner of his eye.
At least he is decently competent.
Alarms started from one of the consoles a drone sat at.
"The renegades are attacking the career. Smokes are clouding the entire area. Radio is scrambled and we can't reach-"
"Send out the helicopters,"
Trying the same tactic. Worthless. Just when I thought they were going to give me a challenge.
Thick, heavy smoke filled the area around the cranes. Prisoners murmured in excitement as they hoped for rescue. Sentries and soldiers stood their ground. But after some time, nothing happened. The smoke was quickly pushed off towards the ocean, where it hovered before dissipating. Everyone looked around to try to find the members of the Defiance, but none were scene.
"No reports on the rebels, Sir,"
"None…?" the System Monitor muttered to himself.
"We have patrols heading out to search,"
"No. Pull them back before they're ambushed. That's exactly what they want,"
"Affirmative," As the controller relayed the commands, Dyson's hand rubbed his chin in thought.
Maybe they aren't as dull as I thought… knowing regular response protocol. I suppose I have you to thank for that Commander Paige… He mentally grinned.
"Radio communication has been fully restored,"
They must have fully pulled out.
"Extend the perimeter. Pull patrolling tanks and Recognizers in to help. Secure the area and corner them. If they want to risk another feint, let them and we'll punish them for it," Dyson growled darkly. Exhilaration filled his body as he imaged the battle before him. It had been a long time since he faced an opponent who had a somewhat chance of fighting back. They may not have much in the way of resources, but enemy plans and strategies went a long way in war. Dyson only hoped Tron's puppet could use it intelligently before he snuffed them out completely. Maybe he could even salvage Tron's protégé for himself.
Without warning, the ship jerked and the lights flicked off for a moment before reappearing and alarms went off.
"Status!" Dyson barked.
"Power down in Sector 49, 52, 55!"
"Radio is now completely jammed! No communication outside of the ship!"
"More Sectors are losing power! The power grid to Argon is shutting down!"
Dyson walked to the outlook window and saw a blanket of darkness covering Argon, slowly consuming more and more.
Damn! He thought as he looked to the Solar Sailer and found it hard to spot.
"Why are the back up generators not operational?!"
"We don't know, Sir! We can't communicate with the ground!"
Search lights from helicopters and Recognizers roamed the area lighting up important areas of the operation. Dyson turned to head toward the exit.
"Send a group out to relay messages to ground personnel. Form up on the prisoners. I want reports from all Sectors. Secure them," he issued before leaving the room and made his way to the hangars.
Rinzler made no reaction when the power went out. When the lights turned off, so did the energy walls that secured the prison cells, and a blast shield slammed down to take its place. The locks on Tron's wrists and disc remained the same.
"Looks like my rescue is underway," Tron said to Rinzler not expecting a response. The Program's purr seemed to turn into a growl for just a moment. The footsteps of an approaching person started and Rinzler's discs were immediately at the ready.
"Stand down, Program," Dyson called as he rounded a corner with a squadron of Black Guards, "I wanted to make sure our special guest was secure. Make sure it stays that way. I need to return to the command center," Rinzler nodded before the General left. The guards split up into pairs of twos and stood at each end of the prison cells.
"So… Anon. What did he do to you? Dyson tortured me, destroyed pieces of me," Tron's words earned no response but he kept on anyway, "He crippled me. Until I was saved by a hopeful Program," Silence hung in the air for a moment.
Stunners flew from the darkness, one for each of the guards and Rinzler. Four of the five stunners hit their target, the last destroyed mid air by an impossibly accurate slash of a disc.
"Well, I'm flattered," a voice called out. The purring of the reformed System Monitor grew in pitch, his discs aimed to strike.
"Unless you were talking about Cyrus,"
Tron laughed as he looked around, "He did save me, but he's not the one I was talking about,"
Rinzler made a move for his wrist but a disc cut his communicator. The mute growled as he followed the disc's return path. He swiped where the Identity Disc disappeared but only cut air. Bombs instantly filled the area.
"Whoa!"
"Watch it, Beck! He's got a few mods!"
"Got it," the mechanic had appeared in front of the cell, quickly placing a large battery on the unit to reenergize the shield with his Recoder at work to unlock the prison.
It had only taken him a second to free Tron, but before the Renegade could unlock the restrictions on his mentor a growling Rinzler split the two apart.
Beck reacted by going on the offensive, striking with light swift attacks, hoping for an opening. Tron fell back and watched as he tried to free himself. Rinzler blocked the strikes with ease and made to end him in one swift blow, but before he could, was knocked back by a powerful kick that separated the two combatants.
The mind and body at ease. Deep calm breaths that filled him with relaxed and potential energy. With the energy of chi gathering and condensing in the core. Muscles lost their tension, allowing pathways for the chi to travel easily. Like electrical circuit ways being cleansed of resistance. Each intake of breath, the energy grew denser. Its bright glow becoming blinding. Every outtake, the supercharged energy flowed like water trickling down a leaf's crest to the extremities. Power infused with the body, generated with the mind, guided by the heart. Coiled potential controlled by calm serenity. Consciousness expanded. The area slowed but the mind still focused on the body. Awareness and senses became hypersensitive.
Beck slowly opened his eyes to see Rinzler moving toward him with both his discs leaving heat ripples in the air. Rinzler moved into melee range, and with cold steel determination, the mechanic stepped forward and erupted his fist. It contacted with Rinzler's chest, the energy pouring from one body to another.
There was no pain. Just the feeling of soaring through the air before the massive collision with the wall brought Rinzler a glaring focus. Excruciating pain coursed through the corrupted Program's body as he slipped from the dented impression of his body on the wall. He attempted to stand but fell to his knees when an explosion erupted in his chest. The bits and voxels expanded with superheated energy, causing them to break and crack. His insides felt as if they were popping, solidifying in their larger state, then melting into lava. All in a matter of nanos.
Training kicked in and he threw a disc at Tron's location where Beck was in the process of unlocking the shackles. The two separated as the deadly frisbee passed. It gave enough time for Rinzler to get back up and pressure the Renegade enough to keep him from freeing Tron fully.
"Keep your distance. He has-"
The floor shook from the massive strike that Anon's heavy disc attack caused. Beck, standing a few feet from ground zero, managed to ride the waves of power coursing the ground relatively well. Rinzler's disc charged with an electrical current, bolts of currents dancing from on the surface.
"Advice for this one?"
"Looks like he has new abilities. I still think-" Beck deflected one of the thrown discs with ease but found his body stiffening and stuttering.
"Beck!"
The Renegade was knocked out of the way before the second disc could eviscerate him. Tron stood first with Beck lagging behind, the electricity leaving his body.
"We gotta go," He shouted, dodging another electrified disc. Tron made a quick sweep of the area before his eyes landed on the cell.
"Beck!" The apprentice changed a look to Tron and saw his gesture. He nodded and made his way back, managing to kite Rinzler's volley and various moves. When Rinzler had closed on the cell, Tron leapt from the top of the adjacent cell.
Rinzler's helmet slammed hard against an edge inside the cell dazing him from Tron's kick. With time to spare, the two sealed the prison.
"He's no joke," Beck commented as he freed Tron's disc.
"He's Flynn's version of me. He shouldn't be," Beck's eyes widened.
"What-" Before he could finish, the broad shoulders from a hug stopped him.
"I didn't believe him… Flynn's done a lot of miraculous feats. But he's never brought someone back. I- I'm glad you… Thank you," There was a stagnant pause where Beck was too shocked to answer.
"I'm sorry," Tron said as he took a step back, "We should go,"
The gaping fish shut his mouth and snapped back to reality.
"What about him?" he looked at the prison cell.
"We have to leave him for now. This isn't our opportunity," Tron said as he headed toward the exit.
There was a pause where Beck second guessed his mentor. They had Clu's most valuable asset locked in a cell at their disposal.
Don't hesitate. Feel. Flow. Act.
Dyson's fist clenched around the baton, the black bar cracking under the pressure. Power had been limitedly restored to the area. By… creative means. Some of the war ship had flown down and linked with buildings to provide the power.
"Sir, we have failed-" the officer was on his knees instantly, a baton bashing the back of his leg.
"I get tell. But you have a creative solution. Precisely why you are not derezzed at this moment," his glower was calm but stern.
"The-" a cough ensued, "The power appears to be cut off at station. The rest of the city has power. I've sent out a large amount of our forces to recapture the plant," the officer stood hesitantly.
"Appropriate response. I want you to send more guards to Tron's holding cell,"
Why I didn't do this immediately… he berated himself. He analyzed the area before him. The feeling stirring in his gut told him he was missing something. His eyes followed the movement of his troops, the hovering warships that swayed slightly, tanks, jets, and helicopters that roamed the area. He couldn't contemplate how the Defiance could possibly maneuver through, or why. They would be trapped at the Solar Sailer without a secure path way back. The ex-System Monitor knew of a handful of Programs capable of the level of stealth, three were working for the Occupation, one being himself, another locked in a cel protected by one, and… reports of the Renegade indicated a level of cunning and tactical awareness that equaled Tron's.
He had forgotten about the protégé, nothing of recent events had been his signature. But why would Tron not use his best asset in the war? Did he send him off to begin flames of rebellion in other cities?
Possible, but unlikely. Tron would have to be supremely confident in his odds of winning over Argon. While sending a reliable source to begin a new foundation for their side , it would be premature to be thinking so far ahead in a war. Extending one's self too quickly was how a leader lost the war. But then a small idea clicked in his mind.
The last time he had any report of the Renegade was at the docks, back when the ex-Commander Paige had defected. The guards had been knocked unconscious instead of being derezzed. That was his signature. He didn't kill… But there was still one dead body.
A number of scenarios ran through his mind.
One of the guards got lucky, a fatal injury that didn't derez immediately and he hid his disc for the sake of saving Tron.
No, highly implausible.
Dyson knew the Commander was linked. There was no explanation of why she decided to leave. What were the facts? The last anyone had seen of her, she had secured a Light Jet which reported to have crashed. In the area of the docks. The Renegade was spotted in the area, attempting to do what?
She had the most knowledge on Tron's apprentice at the time, having the most run ins with the vigilante.
He could have turned her… but then why would she betray him and the Occupation?
It didn't add up. He was spotted after… unless…
He was there to save her! She wasn't fully on his side, but he considered her an ally, or planned to fully convert her. Which would explain why she acted on her own after the event.
Unable to pick sides…
But the important part was that the Renegade was dead. Dyson returned his eyes to the overview. Even with the deduction of the Renegade's passing, the twinge in his stomach was still present.
Damnit. His eyes were seeing the issue, but his mind wasn't catching it. What was it?!
The movement was fine, everything in order, but what wasn't moving… Buildings that were energized. All of them had a ship powering them. Except one. The unloading mechanism for the Solar Sailer. Why would it be powered? It wasn't in use, but his mind screamed that it was the problem.
"All forces converge on the Unloading structure! Secure the building!"
A few pectros earlier.
"Sector secure," Beta 3 of the Black Guard squadron reported to Beta 1, the squad leader.
"Good, let's continue our sweep. Scans from high command tell us we should be running into the strays in the tunnel section ahead. Discs at the ready," The group of four entered into the next area and set to work on finding their target.
"Beta, I've got a lead!" Beta 4 combed. The others met up with him at the edge of one of the tunnels that lead to the canyons of unformatted code. In the distance, the lights of Programs' circuit code could be seen.
"Go, go!"
The guards managed to traverse the rough terrain with ease and were upon what was five Programs struggling to make it through the harsh land.
"Sir?" Beta 4 asked.
"Detain them. If that's not possible, derez," Three affirmatives came over the radio. They converged on the Programs, stunners armed in their hands.
Right as they were in range, one of the citizens turned and the whole area went up in smoke.
"Back out! Find some-" one voice called but was taken over by a hard grunt. The sound of three bodies falling followed.
Beta 1 stood low, trying to reach command but only got a hissing static on his communicator. Slowly, like a tiger coming from the hidden cover of right foliage, a Program eased into his vision. The fog enveloped the two into their own private world. Fear coursed through the Occupation soldier's entire body as he felt his final moments approaching. The figure wearing Tron's insignia swung a stunner at the guard and the fog enveloped his soul in darkness.
"Beck, are you okay?" Paige asked as she could see his face twist in pain. She along with three others from the Defiance now wore Black Guard uniforms and were connected to soldier's discs. They had all just watched as the bodies tumbled over a cliff edge and exploded into voxels at the bottom. Using their Recoders, they managed to extract memories from the guards' discs and implant them onto their own. They would volunteer one of the discs to be used for inspection, mixing memories together from their own to create the perfect cover story for Dyson.
"I've never…" He didn't have to finish to get the message across. She knew exactly what he was going through. Their connection sharing his overwhelming guilt.
"It was hard for me at first too. But this isn't just you making a statement. The people know your message. Now it's time to fight for what you believe,"
"But look what we're turning into to do it… We executed them. There's no other way to look at it," She took his hand into hers. The contact soothing him greatly, as if understanding had been poured into him.
"The world isn't that simple. WE can't be the good guys without a little evil. They aren't pure evil either. We're not wrong, but we're not right," She paused as she thought back.
"Quorra showed me a symbol. Yin, and Yang. Two halves of one whole," Using a bit of snow left in the Outlands, she reproduced it for Beck to see. "See how at the center of one, the other resides?
"They compliment and complete each other. Just like you and I do. I've learned that nothing is pure. Everything is bittersweet in some form. You are fearless in helping others, but not yourself. I refuse to accept others, but am willing to save them. We are all good and evil. Do you understand?"
The hurt and sympathy in her eyes made him want to look away, it was so much emotion, and he wasn't sure if he could stomach it all. He kneeled down next to her and he slowly rested against her, his forehead meeting her shoulder.
"I see," he accepted, but the pain still filled him.
"Trust me. We needed to. It was the one part of your plan that needed to be fixed," her cooing voice in his ear combined with the hand stroking his hair eased him. And he did trust her. Now more than ever. Whenever he needed it, she was there to catch him, as he was for her.
"Alright," he stated after standing, her hands on his forearms, "I'm ready," he nodded in confirmation. The Hero's Light returning to his face.
"Bring him back, Handsome," she gave him a kiss before placing a Black Guard helmet on.
The two squadrons of Black Guards met together in one of the hangers, a darker isolated corner where no one went.
"The Defiance was spotted at the Right Shard," Paige spoke the code phrase.
"The Occupation has secured the coliseum," The other leader answered before their helmet visor cleared and revealed Mara's blue hair and eyes.
"Good to see you back in orange," the medic gave a very sarcastic laugh.
"What's your squad name?"
"Zema,"
"Beta. Are we ready to start?"
"We're ready to go," Mara replied. Paige tapped her com link on her wrist. They waited a few nanos before one of the lights turned green.
"Beck's in position. Call Zed," Mara mirrored Paige's actions and after she got the green light on her com link the two squads started heading to the unloading building as the area blacked out.
The sentries had no chance as they were ambushed in the darkness. Their bodies dragged away as Zema team took over their guard position. Paige and her own squad went to the underground portion of the facility where most of the machinery was housed. Steam filled the air as pipes and various large movers were taking up a majority of the space. Catwalks and other small pathways were fit in tight areas, it screamed cramped. A typical engine room.
The soldiers went to the door in a secluded corner, knowing it lead to the tunnels that ran throughout Argon. On the other side of the door stood a majority of the Defiance, armed and ready to move. Paige held her hands up before removing her helmet.
"Let's go!" she barked and the renegades shuffled in. A few stayed, working on the small single passage way, placing small bombs on the walls. After the explosion, they cut away the debris and cleaned the area for smooth passage.
The others were already working hard at setting up equipment. The downed sentries were stripped of their armor and their bodies hidden, as members of the Uprising took their posts. Paige, along with most of the Programs went to the area underneath the cargo units of the Solar Sailer.
Hooks with ropes were thrown up to the walkways on the Solar Sailer where Gavistan and Perl were first to reach. After checking that they had secured as many lines as possible, Gav unlocked the first cargo unit. The Programs were on the verge of panic and elation of being free, but before they could leave, the Specialist stood before their saving grace.
"Listen up!" he spoke hard, but not loudly, "You need to be quiet and calm. Follow the members of the Defiance down the ropes and their directions. You will jeopardize this opportunity if you panic. Quickly and quietly, move,"
It took a moment for the first Program to move, but once they started to move, it was a smooth operation. The Defiance would hold onto the citizens as they rappelled to ground level where others were in place to direct them toward the lower tunnels. Slowly, but steadily, cargo units were emptied.
"Will we make it on time?" Perl butted to her companion as they opened their seventh container.
"No. Beck said as much. There's just too many people," he answered before giving his speech to new prisoners. They listened and left in an semi orderly fashion.
"Then how many people do you think we can save?" Gav thought over the question.
"Probably twenty containers all together,"
"That's nothing! There's almost two hundred units on this thing!" Perl hissed.
"You know what the true mission is. This is secondary," he looked at the rows of shipping containers before sighing and reaching into his pocket and pulling out a spare Recoder.
"Here, go and start unloading another group. Be ready to pull out on my call," Perl nodded and ran off. He hoped things on Beck's side were going well.
Beck and Tron ran through the upper scaffolding and launched themselves across rooftops. The younger of the two lead. They were still in the heart of Occupation controlled territory, with Recognizers and Light Copters flying over occasionally. Each time, search lights were close by and the pair would duck into cover where they could catch their breaths.
Alarms started over the area.
"Do you think they know I'm gone?" Tron half joked.
"Probably. Or Dyson figured out half of the plan,"
"Other half?"
"You don't think I came here all on my own do you?" Beck smiled as he leapt over a ledge between two roofs.
"But they can't hold off Clu's army!" Tron stated in confusion.
"It was my plan. You know what I'm best at,"
"Stealth,"
"Exactly,"
"But with such a large group?"
"Makes it even less likely to suspect," They paused as another patrol passed.
"The rest of the Defiance is using the Unloader to sneak Programs underground,"
Tron was very impressed.
"Now that they've been caught, they should be retreating underground. We'll meet them at the coliseum," Beck informed before the lights of the city came back on.
"Looks like Dyson's secured the power station. We have to hurry," he continued, leaving explosive bombs behind.
"What are you doing?"
"Giving them a distraction,"
"But they haven't spotted us,"
"Not from us," Beck said, holding out a remote trigger.
Link, Zed, and the rest of the group that had gone to the power station, panted from their exertion. Having sprinted over a kilometer through the tunnels, the group climbed the ladder to the surface, peaking out of the grate. The alley was clear and said o they ascended to the surface. They worked quickly to set up their equipment.
"Ready," Bartik said as he connected the contacts of his device. It wasn't long before the sound of a distance explosion rubbled through the air.
"Alright everyone," Zed said triumphantly, a feral grin marking his face, "Show time,"
Lights filled the sky all over Argon. All over the city, dazzling displays of fireworks blossomed. Sparks of the full range of the rainbow except one color filled the sky. Orange.
Tron looked over at Beck who had just dropped the depressed trigger for his bombs.
"I don't think a fireworks show will slow Dyson, Beck," He said with disappointment.
"It's not meant to slow him down,"
The young mechanic, having lowered himself in the dank alley the two were standing it, removed the sewer grate below him. When the two dropped down, it was near pitch black in the narrow space. The only light came from above, which was barely any to begin with. Light came from a small flashlight Beck pulled from his waist.
"Let's go,"
"What was it like?" Tron asked suddenly. They had been walking for the past few microcycles in silence. Only the tapping of their boots against the tunnels to keep them company.
Tron had needed a minute to gather his thoughts. What was someone supposed to say to someone who was dead? A close friend who had past, and regretting the moments you let pass. It seemed the Grid had gifted him a second chance, as it had with Flynn.
If only he could have been given another chance with Yori.
Beck, having answered the question already spoken immediately.
"Like I was asleep for a long time. A really long dream guided by Paige's life,"
"And you just woke up?" Tron questioned.
"Sort of. It was odd. It was like dreaming, but I was aware of what was happening in the dream. That I knew I'd never wake up,"
That make Tron fault in his walk. It seemed terrifying similar to the time after Clu's overthrow. Like a waking nightmare that never cleared from his mind. A world that seemed to be impossible in existence, but reality never changed back. The horror. The crippling fear and defeat.
"How did you manage?"
"I still felt connected to Paige, her presence was enough to keep me sane through it. She was the hope I could hold onto,"
Again, Tron felt Beck's words reach to his core. At times, he felt the Grid was against him. Long cycles of torture at Dyson's hand, the knowledge of his ultimate failure and purpose torn from him. He had Flynn as his hope. But there were times when Yori would flash through the pain. Calling to him, telling him to stay strong and fight.
"So, you and Paige are..."
Beck blushed and looked away, a hard sight to see in the dark. Tron couldn't help but wonder if the feeling in his chest was what Flynn felt for his own son. Warmth that sank to his core, and rang with a vibrance through his body. A similar feeling of love, but... familial. He imagined it was the same feeling a father would have for teasing his son over his first girlfriend.
"Yeah..." Beck muttered.
Tron huffed. "I guess you were right about her after all,"
The Renegade straightened slightly, a small smirk gracing his lips.
"What about you and Yori? I don't think I've heard the full story," Beck asked conversationally. Tron stiffened at the question, and when he didn't respond, Beck looked back and realized his error.
"Unless it's hard-"
"No. It's fine. It just surprised me that you asked. I've only ever told a handful of Programs,"
I suppose Abel and Flynn are hardly a handful.
There was a significant pause before he spoke again.
"I think I'm hindsight it should have been obvious to me what had happened. But usually that's the case with seeing the problem in the aftermath...
"Flynn had transferred a group of us from the old system. Ones he felt that could be updated to fit the new Grid. Yori was one of them,"
The sound of their footsteps echoed through the tunnel as Tron told his story.
"She helped coordinate with other Programs to make sure construction and other critical areas were monitored. It was a drastic change in what her previous protocol had been. We were able to work together and spent lots of our routines with each other. It made the time we spent that much sweeter. A new world to expand and create. With a great friend on one side, and... the woman I loved on the other. Like Flynn, I was supremely happy...
"... Until problems arose. Flynn's wife had been in an accident. He'd been absent from the Grid for Hilos. Clu had worried about his well being. He came to me asking what to do. I think that night was the beginning of change for Clu into what we know him as now. When Flynn returned, he was drastically different. It seemed a new person had rewritten his heart. Yori and I had been worried, when we talked to him about it he shrugged it off and would continue to dive deeper into working on the Grid,"
Tron took a breath before continuing.
"Clu started acting harsher towards the workers. Yori came to me one night after he had derezzed a Program for 'not meeting his standards'. When I confronted him, he was indifferent. Like he had the right to derez who ever he wanted. When I asked about how he felt toward Flynn's time away, Clu exploded. Telling me that Flynn wasn't the same, had been corrupted or some nonsense like that, made him lose his focus,"
Tron scoffed.
"It turned out the opposite was true. Flynn had started devoting more time into the Grid. I think Clu was just so close minded he wasn't able to see that.
"When I brought Clu's behavior to Flynn, he brushed it off,"
Tron slowed to a stop, his eyes clearly indicating he was far away.
"What happened to Yori?" Beck questioned after a moment, bringing his mentor back to the present.
"She was murdered. A few cycles after I confronted Clu, she hadn't come home. I went out looking for her, but I couldn't find her at any of the normal places. So I went to Flynn and together we were able to trace her. I could hardly understand it. Her voxels just... I..." Tron knelt down, a hand on his chest. Beck was immediately at his side.
"Tron! It's okay," he rubbed the man's back with reassurance.
"He... he took everything from me, Beck," Tron's voice was so weak, hollow. Beck was hardly able to recognize it.
"Yori, Flynn, the ISO's, the Grid, my body, my name... my purpose..."
"Tron!" Becks shout managed to bring the older man's gaze to his.
"He hasn't taken everything. He hasn't won yet. You still have me. You still have the Uprising. Flynn. And you still have one ISO who needs to be protected,"
Tron's glazed eyes seemed to regain some focus at his words, their cold calculating steel color returning.
"Clu can't take away what makes you who you are. You have your body back. You have your name. And no matter what. He can't take your purpose away,"
"He could repurpose me," Beck shook his head.
"Even that wouldn't stop you. Nothing can stop you," he paused, "Except you. You're getting in your own way,"
The mechanic stood and held out a hand. "Stand up with me. Only you can stand against opposition, you taught me that. But sometimes we need a helping hand,"
Tron could only stare at the calloused hand in shock. When had Beck turned from the insecure boy, into the courageous hero? Why had he finally folded in on himself after all the pain and tragedy had already passed and hope was just at the horizon? Was it because of Anon? Because if Clu had taken Dyson, and Anon, what could stop him from taking him, Flynn, Beck, and the rest of the Uprising?
"Stop thinking," their eyes met again, "I know what you're doing. I don't know why you're doing it, you've never done it before, but stop,"
It took a moment for his words to sink in, but eventually, Tron took his protégé's hand and stood.
"You're right... I just..." Something about his tone made Beck understand his mentor's sudden anguish.
"You never fully grieved for her did you?" The silence that followed was substantially heavy.
"No," the two started walking again, "And right now, isn't the time,"
"Beck, I wanted to say this for a long time. You've shown potential I've never experienced before. You've proven to be the hardest working Program I've ever met. I'm proud to have you as an ally, a confidant, a friend... Someone I can trust fully. You are incredibly intelligent. Look at this whole scenario! You rescued me, from Dyson and Rinzler! While managing an operation to save the Programs of Argon.
"You are the hero of this story, not me," Beck's face was flush with emotions raging to escape, as he tried to keep the tears from rolling.
"You've become..." Tron paused as his eyes narrowed in thought.
"Frankly, the way you act, it's behavior of a User,"
"I..."
Just silence. Tron expected as much. The humble hero as Beck was.
"Thank you, Tron," the Renegade said with his voice on the verge of cracking.
Tron couldn't help his hand as he ruffled the young man's spiked hair.
"Let's get moving,"
The two stood under the ladder that would lead them to the opening of the coliseum.
"Ready?" Beck asked.
"Hero's first," Tron answered, gesturing with a hand.
The cover slid to the side and the two came to the surface. A group rivaling a hundred Programs waited for them and cheered as they came into view. Mara and Zed rushed Beck, crushing him in a bear hug while Perl and Gav came up to Tron and gave him a curt nod and welcome back.
"You did it!" Mara shouted into Beck's ear. Her arms squeezing too tightly to be comfortable.
"We did it," Beck's reply was barely heard over the applause and cheering. His best friends unwrapped themselves from him and Mara proceeded to hug the older Program.
"Thanks, Mara," Tron chuckled, returning her embrace briefly.
Paige managed her way through the crowd and appeared behind her partner. With minimal fanfare, the two came together, their hands combining naturally.
"Did you two talk?" she asked into his ear. Beck nodded his affirmation as the group moved through to the center of the arena.
"I'll tell you later," he muttered before Mara's shout grabbed his attention.
"Beck! Look at all these Programs!" her hand pointed to the seating area where what appeared to be hundreds of Programs resided, all rescued from the Occupation.
As Tron and the Renegade walked forward, the Defiance members around them backed away, even Paige, giving Beck a reassuring nod. In the middle of the arena, the two stood side by side, all the attention drawn to them.
"Greetings Programs!" Tron's voice boomed throughout the coliseum, "Some of you may think me dead. But, it is time for me to come out of hiding. Clu had me tortured and crippled, I escaped and enlisted the help of this Program," The stares of nearly a thousand pairs of eyes burned into Beck's soul.
"A single Program. He alone stood against the Occupation in my emblem. My name. My hope. His determination to save this city was inspiring. And I stand before you to ask for your help. Now is the time to stand together. Against Clu and his oppression. Will you join our Uprising…" He looked to Beck before looking behind him at the rest of the renegades.
"… Our Defiance. To free the Grid and return it to its former glory?" There was a moment of deafening silence.
"Tron Lives!" Beck shouted, pumping a fist into the air.
"Tron Lives!" The other Specialists shouted with him in the next chant.
"Tron Lives!" The third time, all of the Defiance cheered it.
Slowly, the crowd in the stands joined in.
"Tron Lives!"
"Tron Lives!"
"Tron Lives!"
As the chanting chorused, Tron looked over to Beck. A confident smile grazing his face.
"Beck. I may be their leader. But you're their hope," His cold steel gaze piercing, "This is your rebellion more than it is mine. Are you prepared to take charge?"
Beck felt himself light on the inside. A blooming fire in his stomach that grew to his chest. Was he truly ready to take the mantle of a hero? Become the next Tron and save the Grid?
His eyes glanced over to Paige. She caught it, and in that small moment, their resonance glowed bright. Their connection grew and he was momentarily overwhelmed with Paige's admiration. But in the nano it took to feel, he had his answer. Her smile told him she knew what he was thinking.
"Yes,"
AN: Sorry for the long wait, I've had this written for months, just not typed up. Not my most favorite chapter to write, but I do hope you enjoyed it.
There are a few scenes where I feel the characters act differently than what they're supposed to. Especially Tron reliving Yori's death. I can't imagine in the show having him do that, but I think even Tron isn't immune to a small panic attack, feeling the literal weight of the world on his shoulders and all.
I do try to keep all actions and reactions logical, so I hope you all enjoy the story so far, and this chapter.
-Rose's Requiem.