Should be studying but I can't focus...I've had this on the brain and I had to get it written. This is the last chapter of 'Uprising' and the beginning of the road to 'Tron: Legacy'. I don't know how long this story will be because I've gotten complaints for 'Son of Tron' because of how long it was. My main fear is that I won't have a long enough story for the road to 'Tron: Legacy' and/or Legacy itself. So I'll leave it up to you. Should I split this into two/three parts (Uprising, Pre-Legacy/Post-Uprising, and/or Legacy/Post Legacy) or leave it as one story. You guys choose.
Chapter 24
Terminal
Accessing Archive Data…
Able. Dead…those two words just can't be in the same sentence. They…they just can't! Able's been there since I was a baby, he helped my mom raise me since Dad wasn't able to be there. He was there when I took my first steps, when I hacked together a piece of junk that somehow resembled a toy lightcycle, he trained me on how to be a Mechanic, to hide what I really am. Now he's gone…
And Mara's right, it's all my fault. I should have taken his place. It should be him still here not me.
It's all my fault…
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Everyone stood around the place where Mara had placed Able's "coffin". Or at least…that was the best assumption that Yori could come up with.
She held Able's Disk in her hands, afraid to let go of it in case it, like its owner, derezzed. The old Mechanic had managed to slip Yori the Disk before the explosion, he had said that there was something on it for Mara and Beck. His…"will".
Yori closed her eyes. She'd known Able for a long, long time. He was almost as old as she was, he was one of the first Programs to be rezzed onto the Grid and she and Tron had greeted them all, welcoming them to their home.
"Able's…dead…" Yori murmured, bowing her head, "Just doesn't seem real,"
"Well, get used to it," Mara replied bitterly, "because it is real and it's the Renegade's fault,"
"C'mon, we don't know that," Zed started but Mara shut him up with a glare.
"He did it, Zed!" she snapped, "He kidnapped us and he blew up the crane with Able inside!"
"Just like he blew up that shop," Copper said.
"And part of the garage…" Dash finished.
"Yes," Bit wailed from right above Yori's shoulder.
"Hush," Yori told it.
"You see that! Even Bit can put it together!" Mara hissed.
"We didn't see who kidnapped us, Mara," Yori reasoned, even though she had a pretty good idea who, "It could have been anyone. Maybe…Maybe he came to save us but…"
She stopped as Mara fixed him with a glare so cold that her system nearly shut down.
"If Bit can put it together," she repeated, "Why can't you two? Or do you both need the Renegade to walk in here and tell you himself?"
"I'm with Zed and Mom," came Beck's soft voice as he walked in, the life just gone out of his blue eyes.
"And how would you know, Beck!?" Mara yelled, storming up to the young Monitor, "You weren't there! You're never there!"
And she stalked off, leaving Beck looking like he had been struck.
Yori walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't mind her," Yori told him, "She…she's just angry,"
"Yeah…" Beck muttered, "Mom, I'm going on a walk…I'll be back when I can,"
Yori hugged her son, holding him close.
"You take as long as you need," she whispered.
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Beck gave a yell as he charged at one hologram, jumping into the air and twisting, sending a crushing blow into the hologram's neck and sending it to the floor where it deactivated.
"No one said it would be easy, Beck," Tron told him as Beck blocked a kick aimed at his head.
"But she blames the Renegade," Beck protested as he grabbed the hologram Tron's outstretched wrist and flipped him over his shoulder.
"Then convince her she's wrong!" another Tron hologram growled, putting Beck in a headlock.
"You don't know Mara," Beck stated as another Tron flickered into existence and charged him with a staff and swung.
Beck raised his foot, stopping the staff before kicking that Tron in the chin, making him stumble back while flipping backwards and forcing the other Tron restraining him to the floor. The son of Tron landed agilely on his feet before whipping around and knocking his opponent's feet out from under him.
"I know you," Tron told him…
Right as the hologram Beck was charging flickered out.
"Hey! I wasn't finished!" the Child Basic protested.
"Beck…" Tron grunted, clutching at his side and falling to the floor with a groan of pain.
"TRON!" the boy screamed, racing over to the fallen hero.
Beck carefully turned the Monitor over…exposing the dark, blackened scar that twisted across his face…
And it was growing.
Beck carefully picked up Tron and slung the wounded, unconscious Monitor's arm around his shoulders and staggered to the healing chamber. He almost wished he had help as he pushed his father's limp form into the soft white liquid.
Beck skidded over to the controls and started messing with them.
"Plasma density: 64%."
"C'mon…" Beck pleaded, turning the controls up, "Hang on, Dad…"
"Full system collapse: Imminent."
"I KNOW THAT!" Beck roared at the Grid, before muttering to himself, "Think, Beck, think!"
He turned the power up as high as it could go.
"Power: Increasing."
Beck ran over, banging his fists on the healing chamber.
"Don't give up, Dad!" Beck yelled, starting to get hysterical, "You can do it! FIGHT!"
He had lost Able…he was not going to lose his father too!
"Warning: Power consumption reaching red zone."
Beck raced back to the controls and started to turn the power level down…right as the tank exploded, sending glass everywhere while Tron was sent sprawling to the floor.
"DAD!" Beck shrieked, racing to the pitifully groaning Monitor laying on the floor.
He gingerly lifted Tron so that he wasn't lying on the glass strewn floor.
"Hey…" he started.
"It's no use," Tron groaned.
"Don't say that," Beck ordered, "We'll build a stronger tank,"
"It won't make a difference Beck, I'm…I'm…dying," Tron whispered, dread and fear racing through his core as his voice cracked, "The damage done to me by Cyrus was far more extensive than I first thought. It's compromised my healing ability…I-I can't fight this off anymore…The virus is…eating me alive…"
He gave a grunt of pain while Beck's eyes hardened.
"Well I won't let it! I won't lose you and Able both!" he growled stubbornly as he tried to help Tron to his feet only to have the Monitor's feet slide out from under him.
"Agh, Beck I can't be saved," Tron murmured, "We need to prepare for the inevitable…"
"How much time do you have left," Beck demanded.
Tron turned his half-blind gaze on the young Monitor.
"Two cycles…maybe three at most,"
Tron put a trembling hand on his son's shoulder.
"You are…Tron…now…" the Monitor coughed, "The Uprising depends on it…"
Beck grabbed the shaking hand and held onto it, his shoulders trembling as his breaths came out.
"Don't leave me…please…" Beck pleaded, "I've lost…I can't…"
"Beck…you are ready," Tron stated, "You're strong…both mentally and physically, you're brave, you're kind, and you're the brightest mind that I have ever seen. You'll do big things. I know you will. You're special, Beck,"
Beck couldn't hold back anymore…and he started sobbing.
"Don't…cry," Tron ordered weakly, "Users, child…if you start…crying, then…I might,"
He leaned his head back against the floor.
"Yori, Beck…I'll be seeing you soon…"
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"Able left a will for you two," Yori said, bringing Beck and Mara into the old Mechanic's office, "He gave you and Beck each a file on this Disk,"
She handed Mara the Disk first and gently put a hand on her son's shoulder as Mara watched.
"Are you going to be ok?" she asked her son.
"No," Beck sighed, "Able's gone and now a friend of mine is dying…he was hurt a long time ago and Able was the one who built the device keeping him alive. I can't rebuild it…I'm practically useless at the moment,"
"It couldn't be Rinzler…could it?" Yori thought before adding aloud, "Beck, don't beat yourself up about it. Everything will turn out fine, I…"
She stopped as Mara dropped the Disk on the desk.
"Mara?" Beck asked, "You ok?"
"He…he left me this…" Mara breathed.
"Left what?" Yori asked.
She looked at the little family.
"The garage is mine,"
Beck gave her a pained smile.
"You deserve it, Mara, if that incident with the tanks isn't proof enough then I don't know what is," he said, reaching for the Disk, "Can…can I have some time alone?"
Both women nodded and they walked out, Bit bobbing closely behind Yori. Beck shut the door and pulled up his file, Able's form flickered above the Disk.
"Beck, if you're listening to this…I hate to say it but I guess I'm dead. I just…have this feeling that I'm not gonna be on the system much longer. Now I know that you're going to be upset and unhappy…but I guess that's how things have to be.
"You've grown so much since you and your mother arrived here in Argon all those cycles ago. I'm proud to say I watched you grow into the young Monitor you are today…even through all those pranks you pulled on me with Bodhi,"
Beck gave a wry smile. He remembered putting everything in Able's office onto the ceiling…he and Bodhi worked double shifts for a couple cycles after that but it was so worth it.
"Beck, I know you know your father's alive. And I know that you've been working with him as the Renegade. The one thing I wish I would have done, that I'm asking you to do…is tell your parents the truth. Tell Yori that Tron is alive and tell your father who you really are. He thinks that you're like the child he lost so many cycles ago…and he's already been visiting your mother as a masked Program named Rinzler. He's getting suspicious that something's not right. You need to tell him, sooner rather than later. Based on how your mother started panicking when Dyson showed up, and that your father showed his face to Dyson…I see Dyson returning to Argon and Clu won't be too far behind him. Beck, they will kill you and your mother if not Repurpose you. Or worse, they'd take you both captive in order for Tron to give himself up and keep him in check,"
"I will," Beck promised, closing his eyes, "But it's not the right time yet, Able,"
"I know you know where my standing point is on you being the Renegade, Beck. But I've fought alongside Tron for many cycles…I know his style, know his tactics. He can be very dangerous when roused…and sometimes Programs get hurt. But I do know this. He would never hurt you. He won't admit it…at least not aloud…but he treats you like a son. Even though he remains oblivious to the fact. He cares deeply for you…you should have seen the row we got into when I confronted him about you. He was not going to give you up. I don't know how much longer he has left…but I'm advising you…don't spend it being angry with him. He's lost just as much as you have…maybe even more. I hope, with every strand of code in my body, that you, Tron, Yori, and your Revolution succeed and that you derezz the tyrant who's caused us all this grief. Well…goodbye, Beck,"
The hologram shut off and Beck didn't even realize he was crying until he saw the tear splash down on the darkened Disk's outer rim.
"I won't let you down Able," he murmured, getting up, setting the Disk on the desk and then walking towards Able's locker.
He looked at the locker and then the one beside it that bore Bodhi's name.
The Child Basic gave a sad sigh and opened the locker, picking up a few of Able's things and putting them in a box. He picked up the picture of him, Zed, Mara, and Able and stared at it. He felt his eyes burn and he set the picture back down, closing the locker.
Beck looked up…and saw Able's calm face behind him. The young Monitor gave a slight scream and dropped the box as he whirled around only to face Zed.
"Sorry," Zed apologized, "You ok?"
"Yeah," Beck sighed, "I thought I could do this…but now I'm not so sure I'm ready,"
"What's the rush?" Zed shrugged, picking up the stuff that Beck had dropped, "Able's locker can wait…When the time is right…you'll know it,"
He started putting Able's things back in the locker and Beck took the baton back.
"In the meantime…it'll be like Able's still here…like he's…watching over us…"
Beck looked at his friend, giving a smile.
"Thanks, Zed," he murmured.
"Any time," Zed replied with a sad smile as the Grid announced the shift was over.
"Guess I better get going then," Beck said with a faint smile.
"See ya later," Zed called.
"Yeah…see ya,"
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Beck walked out of the garage and started to walk down the alley. First Able, now Tron…why was it that the ones he saw as father-figures always had to either die or start dying?
He wasn't in a good mood, frazzling his Monitor's abilities, and it only got worse when a force slammed into him from behind, ramming him against a wall while a Disk pinned itself at his throat.
"Your Disk or your life," the Program growled.
Beck twisted around, forcing the Program to the wall.
"You were saying?" Beck asked.
The Program pushed him backwards and charged at him, leaping upwards to tackle Beck. The Child Basic hit the ground, but used momentum to kick the other Program away from him before getting up to his feet.
The ambusher started laughing and Beck gave a dark snarl.
"You think that's funny?" he growled, taking out his Disk and activating it, "Get up and I'll show you what hilarious feels like!"
He was not in the mood for games.
"You haven't lost a step, have you?" the Program asked, getting up, "You're still the best I ever fought beside,"
"Do I know you?" Beck asked.
The Program derezzed his mask, revealing…
"Cutler!" Beck grinned.
"It's good to see you old friend," Cutler smiled, coming forwards.
"It's good to see you!" Beck laughed, putting a hand on Cutler's shoulder, "What are you doing in Argon?"
"I came here to warn you," Cutler said in all seriousness, "Clu's on his way with a powerful new weapon. But I know how to stop him,"
"How?"
"Enemy!" the Grid's voice screeched and Beck jumped back as Cutler pushed him back behind a corner as sentries walked by.
"Not here," Cutler said softly, "You need to get word to Tron. Tell him I know how we can ambush Clu. Tell him to meet me at the docks at the start of next cycle,"
"Will do," Beck nodded, and Cutler gave him a bright grin.
"I hope to see you soon," Cutler nodded, "Goodbye, Beck,"
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Beck waited in the shadow of the docks for Cutler. He watched as the veteran walked out into the open, waiting. Beck took out the white Disk and attached it to his own before replacing it on his back, armor shimmering white as he did.
He got up and started forwards, coming to a stop behind his friend.
"Right on time, Cutler," he started, making Cutler jump and whip around.
"Tron!" he smiled as Beck patted his shoulder and walked towards the docks.
"Beck told me you were back in Argon, I'm glad," the Child Basic continued, "The resistance needs more Programs like yourself. Now let's talk about this ambush you've planned."
There was a pause and the Grid gave a violent shake.
"Traitor! Enemy! Beware!"
"Of course. It's simple really," Cutler began as Beck slowly and warily turned around…
Right as the crates burst open, revealing Black Guard upon Black Guard…and Cutler's circuits surged scarlet.
"No…" Beck breathed.
"It all starts, with your surrender," Cutler finished as the Guards stalked forwards.
"Clu Repurposed you…" Beck started.
"Clu showed me the light," Cutler corrected.
Beck's systems kicked into overdrive as he balanced himself on his toes, ready to run. The world slowed down and he could see every Disk lighting up with agonizing slowness.
"It's time to come home, Tron," Cutler continued.
Beck gave a low growl and backed up.
"You don't have to die," Cutler finished.
Beck gave a feral grin as he straightened.
"At least we agree on something," he stated…and he fell backwards off the dock, rezzing his jet as he fell.
The young Monitor started towards the open Sea…when something black, gold and massive burst out of the water. Beck urged his jet higher and higher.
"Climb…climb!" he begged…and then his engine blew out, stalling the craft and sending it plummeting towards the Sea.
He hit the water and shot towards the docks, bursting out of the water as he reached them and shooting straight upwards, showering Cutler and his men with water. Beck shot towards the mountains, looking over his shoulder to see if they were following him…they were.
One of the jets flew next to him, but Beck arced over him, unsheathing his Disk and hurling it at the front of the jet, derezzing it and making the Guard hit the water.
He held out his hand, the Disk bursting out of the water, slicing through another jet's wing, and returning to its master's hand.
"Incoming!"
Beck wrenched the controls to the side, dodging shots that were fired on him from behind…right as the jet firing at him blew up.
Horror washed through the young Monitor. Cutler derezzed one of his own men…the Cutler he knew wouldn't…
He shook his head.
"The Cutler you knew is gone, Beck," he berated himself as he shot into a crevice.
He wove in between the rock formations like he had been flying through them all his life, he heard a jet hitting stone and exploding and he gave a grim smile.
"One down, two to go,"
He saw the two jets behind him swooping upwards right as rock crashed down into the ravine. Beck dodged the first one, shooting up into the open as the second slab fell. As soon as he cleared the ridge, they shot at him again, shooting out his wing and derezzing the jet.
Beck yelped, falling onto another jet. He grabbed the pilot and they grappled with one another until Beck managed to throw him out into the Sea, taking over the jet.
"Two down, one to go,"
He shot towards the ravine again, this time activating his lightribbon and shooting upwards, letting the Guard's jet behind him derezz as it slammed into the ribbon.
"And then there were none," Beck thought dryly, racing towards freedom…
Only to see the massive Recognizer in front of him. Beck derezzed the jet into its baton form, skidding to a halt right before the machine.
"Enough!" Cutler's voice boomed.
"You won't take me alive Cutler!" Beck snarled as he took out his Disk, steel blue eyes blazing angrily as his growl rumbled through the air.
"As I said before…I expect you to surrender,"
"And why would I do that?" Beck snapped.
"Because you're dying,"
Beck froze. How did he know Tron was…Dyson. His father showed his scarred face to Dyson! That's how they knew!
"We all know you're hiding a face full of scars under that mask of yours," Cutler continued, "Which is why Clu sent me here with this machine. To save you. We can heal you, Tron. All you need to do is join me,"
"Don't count on it," Beck snarled.
"Come to the docks when you change your mind!" Cutler called as the Recognizer started away, "I'll be waiting!"
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"But is Cutler telling the truth?" Beck asked his father as he tried to sterilize the wounds, "Can he really save you?"
"Sterilizing Corrupt Code…" the Grid announced as Beck fiddled with the controls.
"If that machine is what I fear it is…" Tron started tiredly, "A…Mobile…Repurposing Unit…"
"Unable to Delete Virus,"
"Wait," Beck protested, "He's going to save you by turning you into one of his drones?!"
"All Programs must be wiped clean before Repurposing can begin," Tron told him, "When the machine extracts my existing code…It will also extract the virus that damaged it,"
"But…" Beck started, a crazy, insane idea forming, "What if I interrupted the procedure right there? Would you be ok?"
"System Collapse: Imminent,"
"I know, I know," Beck thought sadly.
The boy took the sterilizing tubes off his father and put the chair he was on in its upright position.
"Possibly…" Tron stated warily.
"Then we need to try," Beck said stubbornly.
"If you don't get me out in time, I will become Clu's greatest weapon against you…" Tron sighed.
"But if I do you'll be at full strength!" Beck continued, getting excited, "You'll be Clu's worst nightmare!"
He turned towards his father.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked.
Tron looked at his son, a faint smile gracing his scarred face.
"You're beginning to sound like me," he chuckled…and then started coughing again.
The boy came to his father, trying to get him to stop.
"So this is what we do," Beck started, "While you're on the ship, I'll be making my way towards you to get you free,"
"What about your friend, Mara?" Tron asked.
"It's just this once," Beck said, "I'll deal with her rant…I lost Able, I'm not losing you too. I'm not losing the one I've come to see as my dad,"
He rubbed his arm.
"Being around you…makes me feel what it would have been like…if he'd been with us," Beck admitted.
Tron gave a sad smile.
"And being around you…reminds me what it would have been like to raise my son had he lived,"
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"Stop, I'm done talking about it!" Mara sighed, turning to face Zed and Yori, and Bit who was hovering over Yori's shoulder, "The Renegade is responsible for Able's death. You can't change my mind, Zed,"
"But according to you, Tron is the Renegade!" Zed protested.
"Yes!"
"Zed and Bit are right," Yori said, "Why would Tron kidnap us? We're on his side,"
Mara slammed her fists on the piece of machinery she was working on, whirling on her both her mentor and her friend.
"It makes no sense, ok?" she snarled, "But even if you're right…even if it wasn't the Renegade who kidnapped us…Able is still gone because Tron, or the Renegade, or whatever he wants to call himself didn't come to his rescue!"
Yori saw tears streaming down Mara's cheeks.
"That's what makes him responsible, Zed!" she snapped, "And I-I just won't forgive and forget…Not this time. Able's memory deserves better than that,"
Yori put his hand on Mara's shoulder, drawing her into an embrace.
"I didn't know him as well as you guys…but you're right…" she said, "But I don't agree with everything you said. I still think that he was trying to get there,"
"You think what you want to think," Mara growled, coming out of Yori's embrace.
There was a low rumbling sound and Yori looked up.
"Recognizers," she stated as one landed in the garage, "I hate Recognizers,"
She saw Pavel and a bunch of sentries coming off the ship stalking forwards.
"And you know what…I really hate that guy," Yori growled as Bit gave a startled 'No!' and zipped into Able's office.
"I'm all broken up inside over your loss," Pavel said with mock sympathy.
"Sure you are," Yori deadpanned.
"Yori!" Zed hissed.
"But time to move on," Pavel purred, pushing past Yori and making a bunch of the Mechanics start towards him only to get stopped by the older Program.
[Don't] she pinged, [You'll just make things worse]
"In light of recent unrests, this repair facility is now under military control!" Pavel yelled, raising his arms, "Welcome to my house of pain!"
"But…Able gave it to me…" Mara breathed.
"Well now it belongs to me," Pavel smirked, "I'll be in my office,"
He stalked into Able's office and Yori's eyes widened as she saw Bit zipping around worriedly as Pavel set down.
"Bit!" she hissed, starting forwards.
If anything happened to the little guy…Beck would be devastated.
"No…no! No! No! NO! NO! NONONONONONO!"
"SHUT UP!" Pavel screeched, taking out his Disk and…slashing it through Bit.
Yori gave a shriek and the other Mechanics each gave cries of shock as the little creature's voxels clattered to the floor. Bit had been there for as long as any of them could remember…and now…it was nothing more than a scattering of tiny blue voxels.
"Somebody clean this mess up," Pavel sneered.
Link shot towards the office and Yori closed her eyes.
"This is wrong," Copper started, "We need help,"
"Oh, how 'bout the Renegade?" Dash snarked, "Oh wait! That good-for-nothing hero is nowhere to be found!"
"Dash, I swear…" Yori threatened, whirling around as Zed raised his voice.
"Guys! We can't expect the Renegade to fight all our battles!" he snapped, "He can't be everywhere at once!"
"Which is probably why he couldn't save Able," Yori reasoned.
"You're right," Mara's voice agreed, making Zed and Yori both turn around to face the tired gaze of their friend, "But maybe we could have,"
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Tron braced himself against the crates, watching as Beck sprinted across them, finally coming to a rest on top of the Recognizer.
He gave a nod and rezzed his mask, groaning as he straightened and then steeled himself, striding towards the Guards standing in line. He came to a stop and derezzed his mask, turning his half blind gaze to the cockpit of the Recognizer.
"Cutler!" he snarled, voice cutting through the air like a whip.
"Behind!"
Tron slowly turned around and faced the traitor.
"You've made the right choice, Tron," Cutler hummed, coming up behind the Monitor, "And by the looks of it, just in time,"
He put a hand on Tron's shoulder.
"Perfection awaits you," Cutler finished.
Tron gave a low, rumbling snarl, eyes flickering darkly in warning.
"Perfection…perhaps corruption is more like it," Tron growled under his breath.
He looked up at the top of the Recognizer, catching a glimpse of Beck.
"Stay safe, Beck,"
Cutler led the Monitor into the Repurposing room.
"In here," he said, gesturing to a glass tube.
Tron gave a convulsive shudder as he saw the tube and he started backing away. The Black Guards grabbed his arms and started forcing him towards the tube.
"Calm yourself. Breathe, just breathe…" Tron told himself, "Breathe…I'm not doing this for me…it's for Beck. I can't leave him alone…"
He heard the Rectifier start and his fingers twitched, tapping a timer on the palm of his hand.
It was time.
He felt his Disks getting removed and lifting into the air above his head. No…no! He felt his mind wiping, everything that made him Tron was slipping…NO! He grasped at his memories, the precious ones that were comprised of his son, of his wife, his life…
But his hands lifted, reaching for the Disk, calling…
And everything exploded into white light.
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Beck fought his way through the Guards, hurling his Disk into a pipe and releasing spouts of steam and blinding the guards…
And he struck.
The young Monitor attacked, taking out Guard after Guard, watching as the light on his forearm lit red.
He was out of time!
Beck gave a yell slamming the last Guard's head into the door controls, forcing them to open. Beck ran in just to see his father, arms raised, eyes blank white…and receiving a spiraling amber-red code that was getting ready to enter his forehead.
"DAD!" Beck screamed.
"Behind you!"
Beck acted without thinking, flipping the Guard over his shoulder and sending him crashing into the Repurposing tube, shattering the glass and sending Tron sprawling to the ground.
"Behind!"
Beck whirled around, kicking and scratching as multiple Guards came at him. But there were too many, he collapsed under their weight. He looked towards his father's still motionless form. Had he gotten there in time? Did he save him?
The Guards pulled him up just to face Cutler.
"And you must be the Renegade," Cutler hummed, grabbing Beck's shoulder and rearing his fist back, "I don't think we've met!"
"WAIT!" a low, growling baritone voice ordered, cutting through the air like a whip.
Beck's core froze as he saw the dark, blue gaze in his father's smooth face as Tron stalked forwards.
"He's mine," Tron growled, grabbing Beck by the shoulder and slamming him against the wall.
"Tron…" Beck gasped, pleading.
The Monitor's eyes sparked gently as he gave a small, roguish grin.
"It's me," he reassured Beck, "I'm ok,"
"Good to have you back," Beck whispered as he gave a matching grin, pressing a collapsed staff into his father's hand…
And Tron spun around, slamming it into the nearest Guard.
He rushed forwards, ramming the staff into a Guard and flipping him over his shoulder while cracking another Guard over the head.
"Shouldn't you be taking it easy?" Beck asked, smacking a Guard with the side of his Disk.
"This is me taking it easy," Tron chuckled, jabbing the staff into the midsection of the last Guard.
Both father and son looked at each other and then at the exit.
"C'mon," Beck called, nodding his head at the exit, "This way,"
They charged into the hallway with more Guards on their heels. Beck paused, Disk at ready…when Tron shoved him out of the room and shut the door.
"TRON!" Beck screamed, banging on the door while the Monitor gave a very cheeky grin.
He turned around to face the Guards.
"Good news, I'm healed," Tron announced with a smirk, "Bad news…"
He settled into ready position.
"I'm healed,"
And he charged forwards with a war cry.
Beck watched in slight awe and worry as Tron seemed to whirl around the hall, the staff spinning like a chopper blade…
"He's just as good as Mom and Able said he was…" Beck thought with a smile, grimacing at how his father's movements before seemed clipped and awkward due to his wounds but now…
His father was a blur of motion…and that's when Beck saw Cutler's reflection in the window standing behind him.
"Where are you going?" Cutler snarled, "We can Repurpose you too!"
"Not on your life!" Beck thought angrily as he dodged the Disk that slammed into the door's window.
The two fought, Cutler driving Beck towards the turbine blades that helped bring energy to the ship. Beck slashed at the traitor…right as Cutler kicked him, knocking him to the ground next to the blades. Cutler placed his foot on Beck's chest and shoved him towards the blades, letting each one yank the Child Basic's head back, scratching his helmet with each blade.
"You're fighting on the wrong side!" Beck yelled, trying to reach out to his friend, "The Revolution needs you!"
"You're right!" Cutler sneered, "But it's Clu's Revolution, not yours. So long, Renegade…it's been real…"
He raised his Disk and Beck derezzed his mask, exposing his face.
"CUTLER! WAKE UP!" Beck shrieked.
Suddenly, Cutler's eyes widened and he staggered back, screeching in pain as he grabbed his head…
And his circuits surged white.
"Beck?" Cutler asked before groaning and holding his head as his circuits flickered back and forth between red and white, "What's happening to me?"
Beck heard the door slam shut and Tron's footsteps neared right as Cutler let out and ear-piercing shriek.
"NOOOOO!"
"You're rejecting your Repurposing," Beck told him, "Remember who you are!"
Cutler's circuits flared red, and he shakily held up a grenade.
"Stay back, both of you," Cutler snarled.
"Beck…don't…" Tron warned.
"Clu demands your deletion," Cutler stuttered, "Clu…demands…agh!"
"Fight it Cutler!" Beck ordered, reaching out to his friend once again.
"I…I can't," Cutler whimpered, eyes locking onto the father and son once more.
"Beck! We're running out of time!" Tron started.
"I…I'm sorry…Beck…" Cutler apologized.
And he threw himself over the side of the railing.
"NO!" Beck screamed, lunging forwards and grabbing Cutler's hand.
"Beck, we need to go now," Tron said gently.
"No!" Beck snarled, "I can save him!"
"Beck…" Cutler's voice begged, "Please…let go! Let me go…"
"No,"
Cutler's other red-lit hand reached up, grabbing Beck's arm, his fingernails raking down the black armor and making thin sapphire gashes. It flared back to white and Cutler's dark gaze turned pleading.
"End me," he begged, "Please!"
He gave a scream and his circuits flared red once more. Beck tried prying the bomb from Cutler's grip but was failing. Cutler gave a laugh that made even Tron's code recoil from the sound.
"I'm sorry," Beck breathed…and he let go.
Tron helped his son to his feet and pulled him close…right as the bomb detonated, separating the two from one another as the Recognizer crashed.
01010100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01101100
Yori, Zed and Mara were working hard on a lightcycle…while the other Mechanics pulled a few hijinks on Pavel, accidently knocking something over and nearly crushing the coward, nearly decapitating him with a tank turret that happened to get out of control…
All of them decided that they were going to make that Program's run-time miserable for what he did to Bit and to everyone in the garage.
They were so caught up in their mischief, which Yori applauded, that when the abnormally large Recognizer hit the ground outside of the garage…everyone jumped sky high.
"C'mon!" Zed yelled, getting to his feet and running towards the wreckage, taking most of the employees with him, much to Pavel's dislike.
01010100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01101100
Tron hit the ground hard, howling in pain as metal fell on top of his legs, pinning him. Beck was buried under the metal, he managed to free his arm and cut his way through the metal entrapping him. He staggered to his feet and started looking for his father…
"Beck!"
Beck's head whipped around to see a flash of white in a sea of black and gold. He raced forwards to see Tron hacking at the large hunk of metal pinning his legs.
"Can you get free?" Beck asked, starting to shove on the metal.
"I've almost got it…" Tron growled, "I just need more time!"
They both froze as voices came their way.
"We don't have time," Beck stated, turning to Tron, "Give me the Disk…it's Tron they're after. I'll lead them away while you get free,"
Tron looked at his son carefully…but he pried off the white Disk half anyway and handed it to his son. Beck attached it to his Disk and replaced it on his back, armor shimmering white as he rezzed his mask and bolted. The Child Basic walked around a corner, acting like he didn't want to be seen…and a spotlight hit him.
"Hold it right there!" a sentry yelled and Beck bolted again, climbing up and down the wreckage with the Guards behind him.
"Behind you!"
Beck turned around just to receive a blow to the gut. He struck back, blocking another hit…but tumbled down the wreckage a ways.
"Hey everyone! Check it out!" he heard Dash call out.
The Guards came at him again, hitting him and kicking him. Beck finally had enough and shoved one away, knocking him out as he hit his head on a piece of wreckage, before kicking the other one off the wreckage down into the crowd. He stood upright, breathing hard as he looked at his friends and family and…
"Idiots!" Pavel screamed, "WHY AREN'T YOU DEREZZING HIM!"
Beck took out his Disk, ready to fight back as the sentries came at him…
And then they stopped.
For two Programs stood in their way.
"If you want Tron," Mara snarled, unsheathing her Disk.
"You'll have to go through me," Yori finished, her own Disk blazing with white hot light as she also unfurled her staff.
"Will someone just kill them already?" Pavel growled.
"And me," Zed added, coming up and adding his Disk.
"Me too," another said.
"And me," Dash and Copper growled, the twins' Disks lighting up in unison.
More and more Programs joined the band…until all of the Mechanics…even Bartik and Hopper…stood, Disks at ready, in front of Beck, defending him.
"From now on, we protect each other," Mara continued, her voice ringing clear with the authority that sounded so much like Able's, "Tell your boss…we're done letting one Program fight our battles,"
"Welcome to the house of pain," Zed grinned.
Pavel stared at the Mechanics, scrambling backwards.
"YOU'RE ALL FIRED!" he screeched…and he bolted.
Beck limped back up to his father and stood by his side. Tron gave his son a proud smile before looking at the group below them.
"The Uprising has begun," Tron stated.
Suddenly, both Monitor's fell to their knees, hands on their heads from the scream given off by the Grid.
"MURDERER! TRAITOR! DEFILER! MURDERED MY CHILDREN! HURT MY CHAMPIONS! HURT THE ELDEST'S LITTLE ONE! LIAR! MURDERER! TRAITOR!"
Tron's eyes blazed for a few brief nanos as he turned towards the Sea.
"Clu,"
01010100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01101100
Just outside of Argon's limits, a grand armada sailed in. At it's head, a dark ship outlined in bright gold soared towards the small city.
Dyson walked up to Clu, who stood looking at three different Programs on the HUD. A female with dark eyes and short, wavy blonde hair, an older male with reddish brown hair, steely-blue eyes and a scar that slashed up down his left cheek into his armor…and a young male that greatly resembled the older male but with some aspects of the female as well.
"We're entering Argon now, sir," Dyson started.
"Good," Clu nodded before looking back at the images.
Dyson gave a short nod before walking back towards the rear of the ship.
"So this is where you thought you could hide him from me," Clu murmured to himself, "Clever Yori, finding a small, far-off corner of the Grid thinking I'd never look here…and you would have been right…had your son not got caught and thrown into the Games. Then again…"
He pulled up the boy's image, familiarizing himself with his features.
"You are your father's son…aren't you, Beck?"
And that would be it for Uprising. Let me know what you guys want (a two/three part series or just one book) and I'll start working on the next chapter provided I can get some studying done...also, send me ideas of what you want to see! I take you guys' opinions and wishes into account.
I hope you guys liked it, if you did send in the reviews! (Along with ideas because I will need them eventually!) :)
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.