So apparently you guys want Kevin to stick around past Terminal. Well, like always, I take what you guys say into serious consideration, so I'm going to keep him around. As for who picked him up... let's just say that a few of you got it right... here's Welcome Home.

I do not own any of the Tron franchise, much as I want to.

Key:

"adfasdfa" -Grid announcement

"adfasdfa" -Monitor's Sensing (Grid's voice to Her Monitors)

"adfasdfa"-thoughts/announcements/memories

Chapter 35

Welcome Home

"..eck! Zed! Get Able! He's waking up!" a female voice ordered.

Kevin blearily opened his eyes, just to see a girl with blue hair in a white and yellow striped black body-suit standing over him.

"Hi," she smiled, "Good to see you're awake!"

"Wh-Where am I?" Kevin demanded.

"Able's garage," the girl told him, "You're safe…you're lucky one of our guys found you before the soldiers did. Didn't you hear the curfew announcement?"

"N-No?"

"Well, it doesn't matter now," the girl shrugged, "I'm Mara, by the way,"

"I'm…"

"Well, it seems our little visitor is awake," a deeper, male voice started and Kevin's gaze snapped to the door just to see a dark-skinned man also in one of those black body suits…except his lines were just straight white…like Kevin's.

The man turned to the girl…Mara…

"Mara, go keep the boys out of trouble, I'm going to speak with our visitor alone,"

Mara gave a nod and walked out while the man came closer.

"Now…" the man started, "What are you doing here, User?"

"User…" Kevin started, "Wait…you mean I'm actually here? On the Grid? They weren't just stories?"

"'Fraid not," the man chuckled, "I'm Able, owner of this building you're staying in,"

"Kevin," the half-ISO replied, "Kevin Flynn II…Flynn's grandson,"

Able gave a warm smile.

"Well, Kevin, I guess you can see that this is your legacy…your…grandfather's…gift," he started, "But I will warn you…if you go around saying that that's your name…you will be derezzed faster than you can blink. We've got to come up with a new name for you,"

"New name?"

"Like I said…you will be derezzed if you're not careful," Able hummed, "I think, just to call you something, what do you think of Beta?"

Kevin closed his eyes, savoring the name before nodding.

"But…you'll still call me Kevin, right?"

"Yes!" Bit chirped, zipping in and flitting around Kevin's head.

The boy jumped his eyes tracking the Bit as it zipped around him.

"What in the world is that!?" Kevin demanded, "Is it friendly!?"

"Yes!"

"Is that all you can say?" Kevin asked.

"No!"

"Positive and negative, eh?" Kevin muttered before understanding flickered across his face, "You're a Bit!"

"Yes!"

"And he seems to like you," Able chuckled, "It must be something with those from the User world. Your grandfather drew the things to him like ISOs drew Gridbugs,"

"Gridbugs?"

"Little pests that have a nasty bite," Able told him, "But as for calling you by your real name…it will only be when it's just the two of us,"

"That's fair…but um, Able? I've got a question…"

"I'm sure you do," Able said with a smile, "More than one in fact,"

"How did you know I was a User?"

Able gave a laugh.

"Two reasons, one: You made a very big lightshow with those sentries. Two: I'm a first generation Program, one of your Grandfather's first framework Programs. I sense Flynns very easily…but your code is strange, I'd have to let a friend of mine see you before I can really say anythi…"

"Able!"

Able gave a wince while Kevin's eyes widened as his face went white, like he had seen a ghost.

Maybe he had…

Because it was Beck who had walked in.

"I thought I'd tell you that I gotta go," Beck explained, "He's…oh, hey, you're awake!"

Beck came close and knelt down next to the bed.

"How're you feeling?"

Kevin tried to speak but no words would come.

"He's a little disoriented," Able said, coming to the rescue, "It was Beck who brought you here. Beck, this is Beta. Beta, this is Beck,"

"Nice to meet you," Beck said with a smile, "I wish I could stay, but I really have to go,"

Able rolled his eyes.

"Fine, fine, go. But tell your friend that he owes me…again!"

Beck threw him a smug smirk before nearly trotting out the door.

Able turned back to Kevin.

"You alright?"

"That was Tron," Kevin whispered.

Able raised an eyebrow and Kevin explained.

"It was my nickname for him out there…he's been gone for four years…" Kevin murmured, "We thought he was dead…and he looked right through me!"

Able gave a sigh.

"You knew him…before the accident then,"

"What accident?"

"I don't think I'm the right person to explain it to you,"

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"So where do you think he comes from?" Beck asked as he sat down from the thorough beat-down he had just received, "And did you feel…"

"There's a User on the system…as well as an ISO," Tron nodded, "I know, I felt it…and he or she was here in Argon,"

It had felt like a Flynn, so it had to be Sam on the Grid. But Beck's birthday wasn't until next cycle. He'd been counting.

"Well I think they left when I found Beta…he was knocked unconscious with a bunch of scorched voxels around him,"

"Are you sure he's not the User?"

"Pretty sure…I mean, he's no Flynn. And what kind of User has the name Beta? Just asking,"

Beck stretched, relieving the pain in his arms and legs.

"And here's another thing…I feel like I know him,"

Tron looked sharply at his son. Know him? But what could that mean? Could it…no…Sam wouldn't have given a false name…or would he?

"He-lloooo! Grid to Tron!" Beck announced, waving a hand in front of his father's face, making Tron blink and jerk back, "Thank the Users, I thought you glitched or something. You kinda spaced out for a while,"

"Just thinking,"

"Now with you, that's dangerous…it normally ends up with me almost getting derezzed,"

"Beck…"

"Ok, ok, I'll be nice,"

Tron got up, stiffly, wincing as his scars flared.

He felt Beck's hands on his shoulders and he looked up to see his son helping him over to the Healing chamber.

"I can do it myself," Tron growled.

"Yeah, well, I was faster,"

Tron shot him an annoyed glare before leaning his hand on the chamber, waiting out a fresh wave of pain that rushed through him.

An alarm blared, making both Monitors jump and turn towards the screen.

"Looks like your scientist friend decided to make an appearance," Tron stated.

"You've been tracking her?"

"'Her' might not be a good way to describe her at the moment, Beck," Tron started, waving his hand and pulling up what the cameras had caught a mere millicycle ago.

Keller took out a syringe and carefully injected a bright blue liquid into her neck, her skin seemed to flicker for a second before reforming into a male's render.

"Ok, that's just creepy," Beck concluded, "Lemme guess, go find her, get her to turn to our side?"

"And make sure you don't make any appearance as me," Tron ordered, biting down a low growl of pain, "The soldiers are looking for her and if she spots you as the Renegade, it could ruin everything,"

"Find Keller, get her to switch sides, no appearances as Renegade, got it," Beck called as he started walking out, "And you get in that healing chamber and get some rest!"

Tron gave a low growl as the doors shut.

He's got a point.

"Who asked you?" Tron snarled.

But he did get into the healing chamber, closing his eyes as his scars started healing over.

"I see you're putting that to good use," came Able's voice from the door.

Tron's eyes snapped open.

"I don't want to hear it, Able," Tron replied tersely as he stepped out of the chamber, grunting as the scars flared once more, sending him to the ground.

He felt Able helping him up.

"What are you doing here," Tron growled.

"It's not what I'm doing here, it's what I need you to do,"

"And that is?"

"There's someone that you need to see," Able replied, "And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer,"

"Able…"

"I mean it!" Able growled, "He's out in the main room,"

Tron sighed, starting out the door and freezing as he saw who stood there.

Ice blue eyes snapped up to him and then widened as they flicked down to the familiar white tetramino and then back up at Tron's scarred, stunned face.

"Uncle Trevor?" Kevin breathed.

"No, Kevin," Able corrected, "This is Tron, Beck's father,"

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Beck looked around the train car. He had seen Keller earlier when the Black Guards chased down the other Program and he knew she was on the train…but where…

He saw a light blue flicker and his gaze flicked over to the one Program who was looking like he didn't want to be seen.

Aha! There she was.

He walked up right as Keller put the vial back under her cloak.

"Hello, Keller,"

Keller's eyes snapped open and her wide dark gaze latched onto Beck's steel-blue one.

"Going somewhere?" the son of Tron asked.

Keller opened her mouth and Beck shushed her, sitting down on the other side of the runaway.

"Don't make a scene," he murmured softly.

"Who are you?" she demanded, keeping her voice low.

"Let's just say I'm part of a growing resistance movement in Argon," Beck replied, "And we could use someone with your talents,"

"I am not interested," Keller hissed, looking out the window.

"Look," Beck tried again, "No one defects from Tesler's army and gets away with it. Without my help, you don't stand…"

He stopped, his code freezing as he saw a familiar face come into their car.

Paige.

"What is it!?" Keller demanded, starting to turn around.

"Don't," Beck ordered sternly, slipping into the Tron-like tone he adopted when he was upset and frustrated with someone, "One of Tesler's soldiers just entered the bar,"

Keller's eyes went wide with fear.

"We can't just sit here!" she hissed as her form flickered, reverting to a more feminine shape.

"Your disguise…" Beck started, and Keller reached for the vial.

But she was so nervous that she dropped the vial and it shattered on the floor.

"Forget it!" Beck ordered, "There's no time!"

He looked up just to see Paige starting to open the door. Thank the Users she had her back to him.

"Go!" Beck told Keller, "Take the stairs!"

The rogue scientist darted up the stairs as Paige walked in.

"Paige!" Beck called, putting a fake grin on his face, and leaning on the wall, blocking Paige's path, "How've you been?"

She moved to get around him and he moved to block her.

"What?" she snorted, her honey-colored gaze narrowing.

"It's me…Beck?" Beck tried, "Don't you remember?"

She closed an eye.

"C'mon, don't be like that," Beck started, "Me, you? The Games? We talked…"

"I talk to a lot of Programs," Paige growled, moving again and once more, Beck blocked her.

"But we had something," he said with a small smile, "You were putting me in lightcuffs, I smiled, you didn't…I said the cuffs were too tight, you said you didn't care…"

"Is that supposed to be funny?" Paige asked, poking the Child Basic in the chest and walking by him.

Beck's blue eyes flashed.

"Maybe this will jog your memory," Beck said with a pained smile, "'One goes free! One goes free!'"

Paige froze, and turned around, looking at him in recognition.

"Oh, you," she started, "I remember now…your Disk skills were…adequate for an amateur,"

Beck's eyes flickered amber for a split second before fading back to blue as annoyance flickered in his chest.

"Don't feel bad," Paige continued, "I'm sure you excel at your real job,"

She gave a wicked smile.

"Tell me, do you find waste disposal satisfying?"

Beck bit down a snarl, but his fists clenched in any case, eyes flaring amber.

"Ha," he snorted, getting his temper back under control, "Now who thinks she's funny? For your information I'm a…"

She looked at him curiously with a small smile, and Beck's circuits flickered softly as his processor shut down.

"I-I'm a…I'm an architect!" he finally got out.

Dear Users what was wrong with him!

"I'm sure your friends are proud," Paige hummed, "Now move along, architect, I've got a job to do,"

She turned around left right as a chopper came into sight, flashing its search beam into the car.

Beck gave a low, Rinzler-like growl as he saw who was standing on the rail.

Pavel.

The young Monitor looked up just to see that Paige had gone missing and he walked out the door to find her.

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"Able…I need to speak with Kevin, alone," Tron said softly as the boy stared at him, "Go on home, I'll bring him back when we're done,"

Able opened his mouth to protest, but the cold, red-amber glare that Rinzler shot him quelled any thought of it.

The Monitor's eyes flickered blue as Able left and he turned back to Kevin.

"I suppose you have a lot of questions," Tron sighed.

"You're Tron," Kevin finally managed to get out, "And…Holy God he was right!"

Tron gave a faint smile and gestured for the boy to sit, which he did and Tron sat down next to him, pulling the boy into an embrace.

"I've missed you, Kevin," Tron sighed, releasing the boy and ruffling his hair just like he used to when Kevin was little, "Tell me, what's going on out there? How is everyone?"

"Uh uh, Uncle Trevor…uh, Uncle…Tron I guess?" Kevin blinked.

"You can call me either one," Tron told him.

"Anyway, you need to answer my questions first. Then I'll tell you what's goin' on out there in the real world,"

"Is this world any less real than the User one?" Tron asked, fixing the boy with a look, "Kevin, there is a reason why we don't call it the real world, Users, even your grandfather didn't call it that,"

"Alright, I'll be good," Kevin sighed, "Anyway, answers. Now,"

"I guess a good place to start would be at the beginning," Tron sighed, "You remember the stories we used to tell you when you and Beck were little? Of Thigred and Monec?"

Kevin gave a slow nod.

"Well, they're actually real. The server where I originally came from, Encom's server, is Monec, while Thigred is the Grid…which we are in now," Tron explained.

"So if the places are real…then that means the characters are too?" Kevin asked, "But who's who?"

"Your grandfather was the King," Tron stated, "Your father was Prince Samuel and your grandfather created two Programs, two digital sons to take care of here. Anon, a System Monitor like myself, and…Clu…who is the System Administrator,"

"Dictator," Tron thought bitterly.

"Prince Andrew and Prince Jerk-Clem…according to Beck anyway," Kevin reasoned, making Tron laugh, "And if that's who they are…that means Aunt Yori is Lady Yaira and you…"

Tron gave a sad smile.

"I am Sir Trevor…and Sir Rinus," he said, "But my real name…names I should say…are Tron and Rinzler,"

"So you really were tortured," Kevin started, reaching out and gently touching the jagged scar that wound up Tron's neck, "But…your scars aren't as big anymore. Did they finally heal?"

"No…" Tron sighed, "They constantly reopen and I have to get in a healing chamber to keep them from killing me. I can't heal them, no one but a User can,"

"Well…I'm a User," Kevin reasoned, "Maybe I can take a crack at it?"

Tron shook his head.

"You wouldn't know where to begin, Kevin," he told him, "Alan-One is the only one who can fix me…and get that glitching virus dele…"

He gave a low growl of pain as Rinzler dug his metaphorical 'claws' into Tron's processor.

You are not deleting me. I will fight you until the bitter end, TRON-JA-307020. That is a promise!

"Uncle Tron?" Kevin started, putting a hand on Tron's shoulder.

The Monitor waved him off.

"I'm fine…just…having a little tiff with a glitch,"

Kevin's eyes narrowed and then widened as he realized what went wrong.

"…You're still him…aren't you?"

Tron closed his eyes and gave a mute nod.

"'Profoundly naïve, unimaginably wise'," Tron quoted.

"Who said that?" Kevin queried.

Tron looked back up at his 'nephew'.

"Your grandfather…when he was talking about the ISOs,"

"ISOs…Able talked about them but never really went into detail," Kevin started, "What are they?"

Tron gave a low laugh.

"You, Kevin," he stated, reaching over and pulling down the black cloth that covered the…

Kevin's eyes widened as he saw his birthmark…glowing…pulsating like a heartbeat. He grabbed his arm.

"What…the…hel-"

"Kevin…" Tron warned and then continued, "Your mother has it too, she is a full ISO, a Program that the Grid created as opposed to Programs that Users created like myself and Yori and Able, instead of half-ISO like yourself. The ISOs, your people, Kevin, were your grandfather's gift to the User world…until Clu betrayed us all, giving me my scars and trapping your grandfather here in the Grid for twenty years. The ISOs were hunted down until only one remained,"

"Mom?"

"Your mother found her way to Yori, who brought her to Flynn. Flynn took care of her until the day your father came here and attempted to break Flynn and Quorra out. It…It didn't work all the way,"

"What do you mean?"

"Kevin…your grandfather died here on the Grid, trying to stop Clu from hurting your parents…but it failed," Tron continued miserably, "Clu survived…but Flynn is dead,"

Kevin fell silent, processing everything the old Monitor had told him before asking another question.

"So…how did you and Aunt Yori get to the User world?"

Tron gave a faint smile.

"Yori found me lying on the beach after Rinzler…I…had rammed my jet into Clu's in order to give Flynn time to escape. I was hurt very badly, and we were chased out of the city because the people didn't see me as well, me. They saw Rinzler instead," Tron said, "We stopped by the Portal and we waited. I knew I was dying, and Yori refused to leave me again, so we stayed together, Yori would fade once I derezzed…our term for die…but then the Portal lit up again and two Users appeared. Alan-One and your father, Kevin,"

Tron closed his eyes as he remembered.

"I remember seeing Alan-One coming to me…and then the next thing I know, I am in Lora-Prime's living room with my User sitting beside me, waiting for me to wake up,"

"And then you had Beck,"

"I suppose you want to know why Beck and I are here,"

"I've been waiting…patiently,"

Tron shook his head.

"You remember the day after your high school graduation?"

Kevin nodded.

"Beck wanted me to take a motorcycle ride with him…just this once…in honor of him 'surviving high-school' he called it,"

"Sounds like something Tro…er…Beck would say,"

"Now you know why I always reacted to that," Tron said with a wry smile, "Anyway, we stopped in front of your grandfather's Arcade…I was going to tell him the truth…he had grown so much in maturity that I believed he had the right to know. But we were ambushed by a gang. Beck fought so hard…I had never been more proud in my entire life…and then he…"

Tron closed his eyes. Four years since the accident and it was still hard to talk about it.

"He…what?"

"Beck hit his head on the curb," Tron said softly, "He smashed in his own skull,"

"He should have died!"

"And he almost did!" Tron sighed, "We got him here just in time and Alan-One started to repair him,"

"So why did he look right through me when I saw him?" Kevin demanded, "He didn't even correct Able when Able called me by a different name!"

"Because, Kevin…Beck doesn't know you,"

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"Ok, Paige, where did you go…" Beck thought, shooting a quick look around the train, seeing that he was alone in that car.

He knelt down and touched the floor of the car, feeling the system for the commander. He loved doing this, he could feel everything. An avalanche in Argon's Outlands, a storm raging across Gallium, Clu giving a speech in Tron City…he felt the User and the ISO as well, both foreign and strange but comforting as well.

He opened his eyes just as softly glowing footprints appeared on the floor. Beck got up and started tracking, making his way outside. He edged around the side of the car and started to climb, peeking above the roof to see Pavel and Paige fighting.

"You've got nothing," Pavel sneered, "Not Keller, or a clue how to catch her!"

"I told you I'd handle it! If Keller's on this train, she won't reach Bismuth!" Paige snapped right as a flicker of blue-white caught Beck's eye.

He turned to see Keller attempting to put on a chute.

"You're right," Pavel purred, "Because it seems I just flushed her out! OPEN FIRE!"

The chopper started shooting at Keller, who yelped and tried to duck. Beck didn't waste any time. He detached his Disk and hurled it at the chopper, taking out its rear engines and making the shots go wild as the chopper struggled to stay upright.

Keller dropped the chute and it disappeared below the train…and the train jolted, nearly sending Beck off the side.

He dug his fingers into the metal, trying to keep a good hold on the train…when the Grid shuddered.

"Danger, brakes offline,"

"Oh no…" Beck murmured, feeling the train speed up as the chopper's shots started getting a little too close for his taste.

Beck clung to the metal, praying that he wouldn't fall…

"Are you happy now!?" Paige screeched.

"Ecstatic," Pavel deadpanned, "You can thank me later…"

And Beck dropped back down into the car. He cast his head around, looking for Keller this time…and not seeing her.

He knelt to the ground once again, using his abilities as a Monitor to track the scientist. Her footprints revealed her to be in the next car.

"Emergency Procedures: Activated. Please remain seated."

He spotted the scientist slipping into a room and he followed, coming into the cabin right as Keller opened the window and was trying to climb out of it.

Beck grabbed her arm.

"Are you crazy?" he hissed, pulling her back in, "Getting yourself killed isn't the answer!"

"And neither is joining some rag-tag revolution, Monitor,"

Beck froze, looking at her.

"How did…"

"I saw you tracking me…" Keller deadpanned, "I've been around enough Security Programs to know that,"

"You called me Monitor,"

"You were hanging on to the side of the train…without grips, and you had your head cocked to the side, listening to something only you could hear," Keller said, "I've treated only one Program who could do that. You probably have heard of him,"

"Who…"

"His name was Rinzler,"

Beck's mind reeled. Rinzler was a System Monitor? But…But Tron said there were only three of them, ever! Himself, Anon, and Beck.

Did Tron even know that Rinzler was one of them?

Maybe…maybe Rinzler was Anon…just repurposed?

"Or Tron…" a nasty little voice hissed in Beck's mind, but he shook it off.

Tron would have told him.

Right?

"A Monitor leading a revolution, it's been done before and it failed," Keller continued, "That Monitor is dead. They're all dead…except for you,"

"Give us a chance," Beck said softly.

"No!" Keller hissed, "I'm not in this to choose sides! I've seen what happens when someone switches. Programs get hurt…even derezzed…"

She thought back to when she first worked on Rinzler…seeing who he really was…it was sad to see that the great Hero had been twisted into a witless monster whose only parameters where what Clu ordered.

"What I want is to start over," Keller continued, "And Bismuth is just that. If I can get there, I can disappear,"

She started towards the window again and Beck grabbed her, pulling her back inside.

"NO!" he snarled, eyes blazing amber while the low growl started up.

He yanked back and Keller lost her grip on the window, sending them both crashing through the door. Keller landed on top of Beck, glaring at him and then freezing as she saw his eyes shift from red-amber to steel-blue.

She'd seen only Programs who threw off Repurposing do that…but even then they gave in to the new programming eventually.

Beck froze under the scientist, his steely eyes going far-away and unfocused before snapping back to clarity.

"Paige," he stated as Keller scrambled off of him and they both stood.

"Uh, then again…" Keller started, "Maybe that's no longer an option for me,"

The young Monitor put his callused hands on Keller's shoulder.

"Don't say that," he told her, "Whether you decide to help us or not…I'm going to get you off this train alive,"

He gently, but firmly, moved her behind him.

"Now stay out of sight," he ordered, walking through the car.

He went all the way up to a very annoyed Paige and did something that probably would get him derezzed.

"Step aside," Paige snarled as Beck blocked her.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Technical difficulties now move!" Paige snapped, "I'm looking for someone,"

"Like me?" Beck asked, giving a small grin.

"Excuse me?" Paige scoffed, her honey-colored gaze narrowing.

"I'm who you're looking for,"

Paige immediately grabbed him and pinned him face first against the wall, making him yelp in surprise.

"Do you want to get hurt?" she snarled.

"No," Beck growled back, "I wanna repair the train,"

"How?" Paige snorted, "You're an architect,"

"I'm not really…" Beck admitted, uncomfortably, "I'm a mechanic,"

And even that was a white-lie.

He was an architect…but not of buildings, a Revolution. He was a mechanic, but he was so much more. More than anything, he was the Last System Monitor.

Paige blinked, stunned and just a bit hurt.

"Why did you lie?"

"I-I wanted to impress you," Beck sighed, as she pressed him harder against the wall, "I-I'm sorry. It sounded like a good idea at the time,"

The lights flickered out, leaving only the circuits of the passenger's bodies as illumination. And unless Beck was imagining things, he could see the faint flicker of Medic-green in Paige's red Occupation light while his own white light flickered the soft blue of a Monitor.

"Please be advised: Damage containment in process. Access to engine car now closed. Thank you for your patience."

The lights flickered back on as the doors started slamming shut.

"Fine," Paige growled, releasing him and shoving him forwards, "You want to impress me? Fix that,"

Beck gave a small growl of irritation before straightening, the lights flickering as he went. He looked back to make sure Paige was coming. Hopefully he could do something to fix the train…just to save lives.

…And maybe even get Paige to see things differently.

He shook his head. Where did that come from?!

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"What do you mean he doesn't know me?!" Kevin demanded, "We've known each other since I was born!"

"You didn't let me finish, Kevin," Tron said, hushing the boy, "When Beck came to after he was repaired…he didn't recognize us. Alan-One warned us that he would be disoriented…he didn't realize that Beck would lose every memory he had save for two,"

"And those were?"

"His own name…and mine,"

"But you said…"

"He knew my Program name and function…he didn't recognize that I was his father…"

Understanding dawned on the half-ISO's face.

"You stayed here so that you could help him remember!" Kevin breathed, "My guess is that you were afraid that if you went back through to the User world…it would reopen his wound?"

"We didn't know if it would or not," Tron admitted, "When I came through the first time, I could not speak for at least half an hour because of this,"

He derezzed the portion of his armor that covered his throat, revealing a nasty looking scar that slashed over it.

"Clu slashed my throat to put the Rinzler code in," Tron told him, "After he tried it the conventional way by using these,"

He pulled off his Disks and disconnected them, holding the two rings in each hand.

Kevin took off his own and twisted it, trying to disconnect it but to no avail.

'Aw, c'mon, is that even legal?" Kevin whined.

Tron gave a laugh.

"Your father said much the same when he and I first met and we dueled,"

"You and Dad fought?"

"…Yes…" Tron started uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his head, "We…didn't exactly see eye to eye…"

"So you mean Rinzler met him first,"

Tron gave a soft laugh.

"Very perceptive, just like your mother,"

"So Beck's memory is shot," Kevin started, getting back on subject, "Why didn't you guys tell me? Why did you make up the story that you went down in a plane crash…I thought you both were dead, but I didn't stop looking…hoping that you guys were alive,"

"We did it to protect you," Tron told him, "Telling Beck was the hardest thing I had to do, he handled it well…because he thought he was dying. If he found out now that he was what they call a Child Basic and my son at that…he would go crazy! I've seen his temper…he had mine and that's something I wish he didn't have,"

"And you didn't tell him then because if he realized he wasn't even human he'd be worse?"

"Now you're getting it," Tron nodded, "And you? You're taking this rather well…finding out your half human and half computer program,"

"Trust me," Kevin growled, blue eyes narrowed as a shudder ran through the stronghold, "I'm furious, but that's not going to help us now…just know…when I see my parents again all hel-"

"Kevin…"

"Whatever," Kevin huffed, crossing his arms, "It's all gonna break loose,"

Tron shook his head. Kevin was more like his grandfather than he realized, something that was good…and very bad.

"Hey, Uncle Tron?"

Tron looked at his nephew.

"Who's this Renegade I hear everyone talking about?"

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Beck pulled up the door schematics and started messing around with them. He took his time, making sure he got everything right.

"If you can't do it, just say so," Paige snapped, "For all I know, you lied about being a mechanic too,"

Beck looked at her, his steely gaze so unnervingly like Tron's that Paige actually stepped back.

"Nope," he stated, turning back to his work, "But I did lie about wanting to impress you,"

"Uh-huh,"

"If you ask me…" Beck teased, grinning, "You've been impressed with me since we met,"

She gave a laugh…a nice laugh if Beck had anything to…

"Focus, Renegade," Beck thought to himself.

"Absolutely," Paige snarked, "And why is that again? I-I can't seem to remember…"

Beck looked up at her with a wry smile as he tapped the last bit of code, opening the doors.

"Any more questions?" he quipped, steel-blue eyes sparkling as he stood.

Paige shot him an appreciative look and walked towards the front of the car.

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"Where'd you hear about him?" Tron asked.

"Able was talking about him," Kevin shrugged, "When we were coming here. He seems to be a big thorn in this Tesler dude's side,"

"You can say that,"

"Able said he dressed up like you…but he said it wasn't you. I can see that it's not you now because if your scars open up on a mission…you're out. Am I right?"

Tron gave an impressed nod at how quickly Kevin put it together.

"It's not me…but it is someone close to me. I've been training him since Tesler arrived here,"

Kevin frowned as he thought…and then he started laughing.

"Oh my God it's Beck!" he grinned, "Was that what he was doing when he left today? I just woke up and saw him and he had to leave before I could talk to him. Able said he does that a lot,"

"He came here and told me about you," Tron nodded, "He does have the feeling that he knows you…but it's nothing more than that. He's slowly getting his memory back…"

He remembered that Beck had nearly collapsed during their training session earlier. He had gotten to thinking about Able grounding him again and it had triggered a memory…

The time when Tron had grounded him because he and Kevin had snuck out and pulled a prank on one of their teachers.

"But it's coming," Tron finished with a slight smile, "His eyes changed back to blue not too long ago. They were brown when we got here…just some data corruption is all, but its fixed,"

"So that means you might be coming home soon,"

"Exactly," Tron nodded, "But it might take a little longer than we expected, not just because of Beck's memory…but because of Clu and his dictatorship,"

"Ok…so let me get this straight," Kevin started slowly, "I have a diabolical digital dictator for an uncle,"

"A good alliteration and very true,"

"While my other uncle, who isn't exactly my uncle, has an evil twin who is still living inside him,"

"Also true,"

"So basically like Gollum,"

Tron started laughing, a rich, warm sound that rarely came around.

"I have never heard it put that way but it seems so very accurate," Tron laughed, "See, you're getting it,"

"And you can't come home until my cousin, who is basically a blank slate, regains his memory and you put an end to my uncle who also murdered millions of my mother's, and apparently my, people,"

"Correct,"

"And Beck is now the leader of the revolution that will take the dictator down,"

"That about sums it up,"

"I've got one question then,"

"Last one, and then you answer mine,"

"Fair enough," Kevin nodded.

He looked up at his uncle, icy blue eyes hard.

"Where do I sign up to join the Revolution?"

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"Sorry, nothing I can do," Beck apologized as he looked at the brakes, or rather, what was left of them, "There's not enough code left to repair,"

"Then you need to find another way to stop this train!" Paige yelled over the wind, "I'm not about to let all these Programs die!"

Beck looked up at her curiously. An Occupation soldier that actually cared?

"And a very good looking one at…STOP IT BECK!" the Child Basic berated himself.

"Since when does the Occupation care about sparing innocent lives?" Beck asked bitterly, partially angry with himself and partially angry with Paige.

"You don't know me, mechanic," Paige snapped, making Beck whirl around, amber eyes hard, "Don't act like you do!"

"My name is Beck," he growled, "Not mechanic,"

"You stop the train and I might call you that,"

Beck gave a sigh as he walked down the stairs.

"Fair enough," he stated as he walked over to the comm station and handed the phone to Paige, "Get on the comm, tell everyone to move to the rear cars. I'm gonna uncouple us from the engine. If we do it soon enough, the rear cars should slow to a stop on their own before we derail,"

"And if they don't?" Paige asked, and Beck could hear the slight fear in her voice.

He turned around, blue eyes sad.

"Then it won't matter if you're impressed with me or not," he said, and he walked out the door of the cabin, waiting for the signal.

"Tell me when they're all moved," he asked the Grid.

It took a few nanos but…

"Now,"

Beck gave a nod of thanks before driving his Disk into the coupling as the last Programs other than himself and Paige moved to the rear cars.

"You got a handle on this?" Paige asked, coming up.

Beck froze, realizing that if Paige moved to the back, she'd find Keller…

"Wait!" Beck ordered, "You can't leave!"

"Excuse me!?"

He thought quickly and then the idea came.

"Uh, this coupling isn't going to sever itself," he explained.

"Huh, you worry too much, mechanic,"

"Beck,"

Paige shook her head, an actual smile on her face.

"Especially when I'm around," Paige finished, taking out her Disk and ramming it into the coupling, helping to sever it.

"I doubt I'm the only one," Beck stated.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, you didn't exactly board this train to take a leisurely ride to Bismuth…did you?"

"Like I told you, I'm looking for someone,"

"And what happens when you find her?"

"Anybody tell you you ask too many questions?"

Beck winced as a pain shot through his head and…

"Why is the sky blue? What is air made of? How many bones do I have? What's night? Why is the ocean salty? Why…"

"Beck!" a tall, blond woman laughed, picking me up and pressing her forehead to mine, "You ask way too many questions!"

"Why?"

"Because you do!" she smiled.

"But Mommy! You know the answers!"

"No I don't,"

"Yes you do! You're Mommy!"

"Why don't you ask your father?" the woman smiled, kissing my cheek and ruffling my hair, "He's…"

The door opened and Tron's tall form filled the doorway.

"Daddy!"

Beck gave a small jerk and blinked, trying to reset…right as the coupling severed.

"We did it!" Paige cried happily as she and Beck both stood.

"Good work!" Beck grinned, reaching his hand out for Paige.

She took it and Beck shuddered at the electric surge that came from the contact, he liked it though.

"What's it feel like to save some lives for once?" Beck asked as he pulled her to his side of the two cars.

"For your information, I wasn't always a soldier," Paige retorted.

"Oh yeah?" Beck grinned…

Right as a shadow passed over them.

The two Programs looked up just in time to see Keller jump to the wrong side of the train!

"But I am now!" Paige finished, leaping across the gap.

"Paige! NO!" Beck yelled, starting forwards and then stopping, realizing it was too far, even for him.

He gave a short growl and started climbing up the side of the car pulling out his baton as another crazy idea formed.

"Ok, Beck," he muttered as the wind bent him over the bike's handlebars, "You can do this…"

He heaved himself upwards, letting the wind carry him backwards as he twisted to face forwards, breaking his baton as he did and letting the lightcycle's frame sketch itself underneath him. He revved the engine and shot forwards, ramping over the gap and onto a second train as it flashed by before coming back on top of the first one, the bike derezzing back into baton form as he did.

Beck fell into the space between the cars, his baton clattering to the floor next to him. He lay there for a bit, trying to get his bearings. He saw Keller walk by him and he started to get up, wincing as every bit of code in his body seemed to shriek in protest.

He felt hands grab him and spin him roughly around.

"You shouldn't have followed me, mechanic," Paige snapped, throwing Beck into the car she had just left, "You're only making this more difficult,"

"Don't do this," Beck pleaded, turning his gaze on her, "That Program you're after is no different from the rest of us. She just wants to get off this train alive and go back to her…"

He froze, looking at the warning above Paige's head.

"Life…" he finished, eyes wide.

The Bridge was out…and they were heading right for it…

"I told you," Paige sighed, "You worry too much!"

And she left.

Beck painfully got to his feet. Staggering towards the doors before forcing them open just to see Paige standing at the front of the train…and he got an idea.

"You two can fight it out later!" Beck yelled, finding the strength to run, sliding as he grabbed the ladder and started up it, "Right now, you're gonna need to hold on for your life,"

He pushed open the hatch, donning the climbing pads, and started crawling down the nose of the train. If this stupid crazy idea of his was going to work…he needed to be as close to the rail as possible.

Beck pulled out his baton and broke it, letting the bike rezz…but not under him.

Under the train.

The baton was ripped from his hands right as they entered the bridge.

He looked behind him to see both Keller and Paige standing there.

"Go…" he ordered, "GO!"

The two women ran while Beck scrambled to the top of the train, sprinting as fast as he could towards the back…right as the train hit the end of the rail, sending up an explosion of sapphire voxels, smoke, metal, and flame.

The car Beck was running on top of went vertical and he started running up it, praying that his Monitor's ability granted him that much…and he jumped, tumbling to the bridge's floor right as the car he had been on crashed into the ravine.

He straightened up, groaning just to see two Occupation helicopters behind Paige and Keller.

Paige put her hand on Keller's arm and the white circuits on Keller's body flickered, burning orange once again.

Beck gave a sigh, he had failed.

He looked at the climbing pads at his feet and picked one up, tossing it in his hands before hurling it over the abyss, his growl rumbling darkly. He picked up another one and threw it too…

"You're alive!" came Paige's voice, making Beck jump before he scowled, picking up another pad and throwing it, "I can't believe it! I thought you were derezzed for sure!"

"Yeah…so did I," Beck grumbled.

"I have to admit," Paige said with a smile, "You are one impressive mechanic, Beck,"

Beck shot her a small grin.

"That's good to know…because I'm a terrible architect,"

"PAIGE!" Keller called, walking up, her eyes locked right on Beck.

"Oh no…" Beck thought, fear flashing through his system while his steel blue eyes flared brightly.

"There's something I've got to tell you. This Program…" Keller started, "He's…"

She stopped, getting a good look at him…and remembering the same fearful, steely gaze of the old Monitor she had prepped for Repurposing. She gave a sigh, she wouldn't see someone Repurposed again. Seeing the dead, blank red-amber gaze of what used to be Tron haunted her enough.

"He's a real hero," she sighed, making Beck relax, "If he wasn't on board…I'mpretty sure things would have ended differently,"

She saluted him.

"Good luck,"

Beck gave her a thankful smile before turning back to Paige.

"You should be proud of yourself," Paige told him, "You saved many lives today,"

"Thanks," Beck replied.

"It feels good, doesn't it?" Paige asked before smiling sheepishly at him, "None of the soldiers under my command know this…but I was originally programmed to be a Medic,"

Beck blinked. She was a Medic!? Well, that explained a lot.

"Saving someone's life is still important to me," Paige finished.

"You know what?" Beck told her, "That's pretty impressive too,"

"Hey, here's an idea," Paige smiled, "Why don't you look me up when you get back to Argon? Maybe we can…hang out?"

Beck gave a bright grin, his eyes sparkling.

"I'd like that,"

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Beck got back to the garage later that evening to see someone still working. He came closer only to see the Program that he had pulled into the garage earlier.

"Able got you working late?" he asked.

The Program, Beta, if Beck remembered right, jumped upwards like he had been stung.

"Wha…oh yeah," he admitted, standing up, "I think I'm done though…I'm not as good as some peo…er…Programs I know,"

"Need some help?"

"Yeah," Kevin said, "…I'd like that,"

Beck knelt down next to his cousin and showed him how to fix the bike. Kevin only half listened. He was too busy remembering what Tron had told him.

"He can't know you're part of the Revolution now, Kevin, or that you're his cousin. It could seriously hurt him,"

"Alright…but what do you want me to do?"

"Watch over him, keep an eye on him. I will train you when he's on a mission or not here…so that you won't get yourself derezzed if you get into trouble,"

"Sounds good,"

"You do realize I am going to have to tell your parents about this,"

"Frankly, I don't care. As long as I get to be with Beck and you, I'm fine. I'm making up for the four years I lost,"

Kevin jerked out of the memory as Beck finished, presenting the bike to him.

"Thanks, Beck," Kevin grinned, "For everything,"

Beck patted Kevin on the shoulder before standing upright.

"Glad I could help," he said, "Able said he showed you your room…right?"

Kevin nodded.

"I guess I'll see you later then," Beck finished, walking towards his own room, "You remember where it is?"

"Yeah…I remember that," Kevin murmured as Beck walked out of earshot, "But…please, just remember me, Beck,"

Aw, poor Kevin. But now, Beck's not alone in his fight. As for relationships in this story, TronXYori and SamXQuorra are obvious, and I will admit I'm partial to the BeckXPaige pairing because I can see it going somewhere. The only OC I'm going to introduce is Kevin just sayin'. ANd I'm not touching the ZedXMara paring because I really see that going somewhere as well. I think you guys might like what I'm going to do with Rendezvous.

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.