Okay, I'm glad that I finally updated! Again, I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I have to work on typing faster like I used to. But I prefer to update longer chapters with everyone's point of view in them. School's finally over for me! I'm very happy! So I'll have much more freedom time to work on my chapters! :D Some dots in this current chapter will be connected and there will be some Dramatic and Situational Irony throughout this book in future chapters. I'm happy to write for all of you! :) And so far, this is by far, the longest chapter I've ever written! I'm so happy that I accomplished that! :D So, here you go. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 48
Beck was never going to get back to the garage if he kept taking his current route. He turned and walked into a different alley. As a rule, when you're the Renegade, you need to know all the streets of Argon like the back of your hand.
He decided that it would be faster to get back to the garage by jumping rooftops. It was risky, considering that he could easily be seen and chased again by Paige again. His white suit dimmed slightly from the confusion and the internal battle whether he should building hop or not. He decided to building hop.
As Beck walked over to the closest building, he heard something. No… it was someone. It was alone… and running. Beck spun around, disk in hand and ready for another fight. He stopped and stood there when he realized who was confronting him.
The Librarian ran over to him and stopped. "I don't suppose you know where Alpha is, do you?"
Beck shook his head. "Um… no, I don't." She sighed in frustration. Beck quickly spoke up. "But if I see her, I'll let her know that you're looking for her."
The Librarian shook her head. "It's okay. Although she'd make a preferable ally for what I'm going to do, you'll be fine too."
Beck raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, right. I suppose you should be involved in this anyway. How do I word this? Um… Cyrus kidnapped Paige."
Beck frowned. "I know he kidnapped Paige. I rescued her just three cycles ago."
The Librarian shook her head. "No, not that time. I'm saying that Cyrus took her again, just a few nanos ago."
Beck's jaw dropped open. "Well… do you know where they are?"
The Librarian shrugged. "No, but if you know where Cyrus was last time, he's most likely going to be there again."
Beck though back. Where were they when I rescued Paige? He finally remembered. "Um, they were in some sort of apartment building."
The Librarian face palmed her mask. "Really? An apartment building? You'd think he'd hold her captive in his own prison."
Beck rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… about that. It's… kinda ruined now."
"What?!"
Beck held his hands up. "Sorry! I didn't realize that it's always my fault for the stuff that gets destroyed!" Beck retorted sarcastically.
The Librarian sighed in frustration. "You know what, never mind! Forget that I commented on anything! You need to focus on rescuing Paige and I'm going to focus on dealing with Cyrus. Okay?"
She held out her hand to shake. Beck stared at it. Is she seriously making a temporary alliance? Even though it was just a handshake, he knew that The Librarian was known to not have any sort of friends or allies. Beck cleared his throat. "Um, are you shaking on an alliance, or are you just giving me a friendly hello?"
She sighed and lowered her hand. "You're hopeless! Figure that out on your own! Let's just get out of here and go beat up Cyrus! I really want to give him a piece of my mind for doing all those terrible things!"
Beck frowned under his mask. "But he never did anything to you… as far as you told me."
She turned her head towards him. "No, he never did anything to me, but that doesn't mean that I don't care about innocent lives! Now are you coming or not?!" She pulled out her baton and rezzed her bike. She also tossed him a baton.
Beck sighed. "Yeah, yeah I'm coming… hold on." He rezzed the bike she gave him and climbed on. The Librarian took off on her bike with Beck following close behind.
…
Paige slowly opened her eyes to see the dark figure who she expected to see. "Having fun?" She inquired with a sour face.
Cyrus turned around and smirked. "The game hasn't started yet."
"Oh, not yet? Well it has now! So you'd better prepare for the worst, because it's heading straight for you!" Paige looked behind her shoulder to see a medic program in heels, gloves, neon green circuits, and an 'A' emblem. She gasped. It's the Alpha!
Cyrus smirked. "Well, long time no see…" Cyrus's voice was full of sarcasm. Paige narrowed her eyes in confusion. Wait… he knows Alpha?
Alpha clenched her fists, glancing from Paige back to Cyrus. "I highly recommend that you free the commander before I free her for you!"
Cyrus smile grew wider. "Oooh, why don't you come and do that then?" Paige wasn't fooled though. She could see that Cyrus was hiding something. Fear? Nervousness?
Alpha took a step forward, somehow making Cyrus take a step back. Paige's jaw dropped open and she stared. Is… is Cyrus actually afraid of Alpha? Cyrus glared at Alpha, clearly showing hatred for her. "Come closer… I dare you…"
It all became clear. Cyrus was definitely afraid of Alpha, but he must have some trick up his sleeve. Because his smirk was real.
Alpha crossed her arms. "You really think I'm that stupid?" Cyrus was about to retort something when Alpha drew and activated her disk and charged over to Paige. Cyrus's smirk quickly faded into a look of panic. He obviously didn't see this coming. He drew his disk and slowly walked over to the two programs.
After Alpha finished cutting away the last of Paige's bonds, she helped up the confused commander. "Get out of here. This is about to get ugly."
Paige arched her eyebrows in concern. "Are you sure?"
Alpha glanced behind her shoulder to see Cyrus getting closer. "Yes I'm sure, now get out of here!" Paige curtly nodded and ran up the staircase.
Cyrus tried to follow Paige, but Alpha stood in the way. Cyrus moved to one side, Alpha stepped right in front of him.
He glared down at Alpha and activated his disk. "You just stole my bait."
Alpha crossed her arms. "No, I took the bait and let it go."
Cyrus stepped closer to her. "It wasn't meant for you…"
Alpha was confused. "I know it wasn't for me! But… who was it for?"
Cyrus sneered at her. "It doesn't matter now. You'll end up dead anyways."
Alpha reactivated her disk. She smirked. "If that's a challenge, then I accept."
This time, Cyrus smirked as he made the first move.
…
"There!" Beck pointed a finger towards the building where Cyrus hid in last time he kidnapped Paige. They both pulled the breaks on their bikes and stopped. But The Librarian wasn't looking at the building that Beck pointed to. She was looking at the burnt building.
"Oh my gosh… did Cyrus do this?"
Beck rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, but yes, I think he did."
She sighed in disappointment. "I guess it should have been that obvious. Now I'm certain that he's past help. Nothing can be done to fix this."
Beck shifted uncomfortably. "Um… are we just going to examine this scorched building or are we going to fight Cyrus?"
The Librarian nodded and got up. "Right… let's go."
Beck crept up to the entrance and pressed up beside the wall, listening for any kind of sound. He heard… footsteps and they were getting closer. Beck quickly drew his disk and kicked the door open. He tackled the program that was inside and held his disk very close to her throat. It was Paige. She closed her eyes and preparing for the end.
Beck gasped and quickly got off of her. "Sorry, Paige. I thought you were Cyrus for a moment." He laughed nervously and helped her up. The Librarian face palmed her mask and sighed in irritation.
Paige narrowed her eyes. "How did you even know that I was in danger?"
In answer, Beck pointed at The Librarian. "She found me."
Paige nodded slowly. "Oh."
Beck gently nudged Paige in the back, pushing her away from the building. "Mission accomplished! We're done here right?"
The Librarian shrugged. "You are done here. I came here to get Cyrus."
Paige stopped and looked at her. "Someone's saving you the trouble."
She stopped walking toward the basement and glanced back at Paige. "What are you talking about?"
Paige bit her lip. "Um… The Alpha's inside in the basement… kicking Cyrus's ass."
The Librarian turned towards Paige fully. "Wait… what? I'm sorry, but I could've sworn that you said that Alpha's downstairs… kicking Cyrus's ass…"
Paige nodded. "She is! And Cyrus almost seemed… afraid of her."
"And for good reason!" The Librarian almost seemed to be panicking now.
"What?!" Beck and Paige said in sync. Paige looked at Beck's masked face and scowled. "Don't do that again!"
The Librarian was already descending the stairs leading to the basement. Beck turned towards Paige. "You should get out of here." Paige nodded and ran out of the building. Beck quickly turned and followed The Librarian down the stairs.
The sound of fighting was getting louder and more ferocious. The Librarian had already reached the bottom and stood there, staring at what layed before her. Then Beck heard a muffled, disguised voice call out. "Oh, hello Evie! Have you come to assist me?"
Beck reached the bottom of the stairs and stood next to The Librarian in confusion. "Who's Evie?"
…
Alpha dodged a punch that Cyrus threw at her. She'd told Paige to leave before she had to see anything disturbing. Cyrus tried to punch her again, but she ducked out of the way and elbowed him in the back.
She wasn't going to paralyze him, otherwise it wouldn't be a fair fight. This wasn't a hit-and-run fight like she usually does. She wanted to finish Cyrus off and the only way to do that properly was to keep the fight fair.
Cyrus glared at Alpha, trying to catch his breath because she was tiring him out very quickly. Alpha just stood there, watching him. She wasn't even tired or panting like he was.
Suddenly, Cyrus straightened up and smiled. "I just recalled that I met your old boyfriend just a few cycles ago…"
Alpha lowered her fist. "What?..."
Cyrus's smile grew wider as he finally discovered a weak point. Because he saw Beck's disk, he only had to put two and two together to figure out everything that was going on. "Yes, he's a very… faithful and trusting program. Too bad that's what leads to someone's demise."
Alpha was visibly faltering. "You didn't do that…"
Cyrus chuckled. "I didn't, darling. I just let the cycle go by and let everything go naturally. Unfortunately… things don't always go well for him, does it?" Cyrus wasn't technically lying, he was just leaving out major details of what he was talking about, and making Alpha believe that he was dead. That way, she'd be hurt more and would make her more vulnerable.
Alpha tightened her fists, visibly preparing to launch herself at Cyrus. "You're lying! She shouted as she jumped at him to bury her fist in his face. It was too predictable.
Cyrus sidestepped out of the way and let her hit the wall. She started to crumple to the ground, but Cyrus pressed his forearm against her neck and pinned her to the wall. He smirked and leaned closer to her and whispered: "How predictable…"
Alpha glared at him from under her mask and lifted her right arm to make another attempt to punch him. Cyrus caught her arm with his other hand and pinned it to the wall as well. "You've always had a problem when someone talks about relationships and love, don't you?"
Alpha gritted her teeth. "Well you don't see to be bothered about breaking up with Evelyn, do you?" Cyrus narrowed his eyes. Alpha smirked when she realized that she'd really poked a sore spot on him. "Well, do you?"
Cyrus smirked again when he leaned in closer to her again. "Don't worry, I put that all behind me. I gave that up so I wouldn't have any distractions. I'm going to give everyone a free future!"
Alpha was disgusted by his delusions. "You won't free anyone, everybody would be dead!"
Cyrus pulled away from her, frowning again. "I'd prefer to think of it more as: ending suffering and violence."
Alpha rolled her eyes. "Of course you would. Because it's much easier to do that when you're not thinking about killing everyone on the grid."
Cyrus got angry. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from the wall and pushed her to the floor. "You'll never truly understand the meaning of freedom if you keep twisting my words like that!"
Alpha glared at him and spoke in a small, quiet voice. "I'm not twisting your words, I'm simply saying what's eventually going to happen to everyone and everything."
Her words hadn't helped any. Cyrus drew his disk and held it close to her throat. She started writhing and trying to twist out of his grasp. Cyrus chuckled as he found her struggle very amusing. Then an idea occurred to him.
He put his disk away and climbed on top of her. Alpha saw her opportunity after Cyrus put away his disk. She raised her right hand to reach for her own, but Cyrus caught her wrists and pinned them down. Now she was in trouble.
She gasped and started squirming. Cyrus smirked and leaned in closer to her. "Don't act like you can do more than you really can, especially around me, because I can overpower you any cycle."
Cyrus pinned her hands above her head with one hand while his other moved to try and remove her mask. Alpha's eyes widened in fear. Locking her mask on her head was a good way to hide her face from ordinary programs, but Cyrus wasn't ordinary. He'd definitely be able to remove her helmet like there's nothing to it.
Alpha then heard… footfall. Someone was coming down the stairs. Did Paige get help or something? A realization hit her. She groaned and went limp. I bet she went and got Clu's forces. A lone, dark figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
Alpha looked up and sighed with relief. Using her sweetest voice, she spoke up. "Oh, hello Evie. Have you come to assist me?"
The Renegade also appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "Who's Evie?" He asked.
Cyrus looked up at him and started laughing. "Are you kidding me? You don't know who Evelyn is? You're stupid as the cycle is long!"
Alpha remained silent. She didn't realize that the Renegade was also here. She practically just revealed to him that The Librarian's real name is Evelyn. I am such an idiot! Why didn't I realize that Evelyn wouldn't come here alone?!
The Renegade glanced over at Alpha, who was still pinned to the ground by Cyrus. "That's Alpha? I thought Paige said that she was kicking Cyrus's ass."
Alpha turned her head and looked at him. "Shut your face! I was kicking his ass for a while! Until Cyrus juked me out!" She stole a glance at Cyrus. "And now he's on top of me!" She looked back at Evelyn. "I could really use some help here, you know, if you're not too busy!"
The Librarian drew her disk. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get to you eventually… right now, I'm going to knock some sense into a dangerous sociopath who had a long history of violence." She smirked under her mask. "And there's about to be more…"
Evelyn threw her disk at Cyrus, forcing him to jump off of Alpha. Beck ran over and helped her back onto her feet. "You okay?" He asked.
Alpha shook him off and drew her disk. "Yeah, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!" Alpha walked over to the staircase and sat down.
Beck raised an eyebrow. "Um, aren't we going to help her?"
"Hm?" Alpha looked back up at Beck. "Oh! Heheh, you really think that she needs help?" Beck nodded. Alpha started laughing. "Trust me, no one can match with that gal! She's unstoppable, and anyone who stands in her way will get crushed!"
Beck took a step back. "I… had no idea that she was like that. I thought that she was just a messenger and likes to hear secrets."
Alpha leaned back and folded her arms. "That's the general idea of her public appearance and the way she works. But she does have her own free personality." Beck was about to speak when she cut him off. "And I doubt that you'll ever get to know it."
Beck sat down next to Alpha and watched The Librarian punch Cyrus square in the nose. Beck whistled. "Cyrus doesn't find her predictable?"
Alpha shrugged "Well, they haven't seen each other for a long time." She scooted farther away from Beck for distance and for the sake of her self-control. She didn't want to lose it and knock him out again like she did on the train ride to Bismuth. He totally frightened her. All he really did was stumble past her, but it was enough to startle her. That's why she threw the smoke bomb and knocked him out.
Suddenly, Cyrus hit Evelyn in the stomach with his knee and made a run for it. Alpha and Beck drew their disks, but Cyrus threw a smoke bomb and shoved past them.
Alpha turned around and started running up the stairs after him. "I call dibs on chasing Cyrus! You stay back here and make sure she's okay!"
Beck looked back at the Librarian, who seemed to recover and waved him away. "Follow her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid! I'm fine, I just got the air knocked out of me." She was panting and trying to get her air back. Beck turned and sprinted up the stairs. He heard her mutter: "I'm gonna KILL Cyrus, next time I see him…" Okay, she's fine.
Beck couldn't help but chuckle. She seemed kind of funny whenever she was pissed off. Beck reached the top of the stairs and ran as fast as he could out of the building.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw nothing. He waited and listened for any kind of sound. He heard it. It was running. Beck chased after the sound of footfall and started catching up quickly. He turned into an alley with a dead end.
He looked around and saw a ladder. He ran over to it and climbed up. When he reached the top, he only saw Alpha standing on the edge, her fists clenched.
Beck got on top of the roof and cautiously walked over to her. "Where's Cyrus?" He asked, standing a safe distance from her.
"Let's rule out some places, shall we? Let's start with ruling out this very rooftop!" She didn't even turn around to look at him. "He's obviously gone and I don't know where he is."
Beck took a few steps closer. "It's okay, we can figure this out together. I'm sure if we work together, maybe we can-"
Alpha abruptly spun around to face him. "'We'? What 'we'? There's no 'we'. In fact, since when did I agree to work with you in the first place? I simply found out where Cyrus was and then I confronted him to give him a piece of my mind. Then the Librarian decides that she'll go ahead and confront Cyrus too with you at her side."
She walked up so close to Beck that her body was barely touching his. She looked up at him and spoke in a quiet voice. "Last time I checked, I never agreed to work with you."
Alpha turned and walked back over to the edge of the building and sat down. She clenched her fists so hard that her hands were visibly shaking. She was clearly angry. Angry at what? Beck wondered. He stood behind Alpha on the rooftop for the longest time, wondering what Alpha was thinking about. "Don't you have to leave soon?" She asked with irritation. She was clearly annoyed that Beck was still there.
He eventually cleared his throat and spoke up. "You're upset about something." He blurted out. Alpha visibly flinched after he said that. He was shocked when he realized that he was right.
Beck plucked his courage to walk over and sit down next to her. Alpha flinched again and took deep, controlled breaths. Beck frowned. "What's wrong?"
Alpha straightened up and opened her mouth, but stopped herself. She really wanted to tell him everything; about her past, her feelings, and her hopes of accomplishing her goals… why she was really fighting in the Resistance Movement.
But she stopped before she could answer him. Is it wise to say it? She bit down on her lip, hard. She knew that she'd been acting like a jerk to him ever since she saw him this cycle, but she was just trying to keep him from getting to know her.
She's been doing nothing to him but pushing him away, yet he keeps trying to help and comfort her. Why? That was a question that only he could answer for her. But she had a feeling that he'd only answer her if she answered him and that wasn't an option for her. Her problems are too personal and he'd most likely never understand her.
She sharply turned towards him. This time he flinched. Alpha stood up and leaned over towards him. "You know what the problem is? Everything! Everything's the problem because nobody's happy, programs out there are suffering, and Clu is still in charge! You think that I don't have a problem?! Get a reality check! No one's life is perfect and it will never be perfect! Now go away and leave me alone!"
Beck was about to defend himself when Alpha interrupted him again with a cold, hard, and empty voice. "And don't bother to go out looking for me… unless you have a death wish!" Alpha then turned and jumped off the roof, rezzing her bike and speeding off until Beck couldn't see her anymore.
Beck sighed and face palmed his mask, hard. "Stupid! Why did I think that she'd actually be friendly and tell me what her real problems were." He thought about going out looking for her to straighten things out but he shuddered when he remembered her threat if he did.
Beck frowned. Maybe I can seek Tron's advice on this. I'm sure Tron would know what to do. He climbed down from the building and walked out of the alleyway.
He saw the Librarian starting to walk away. Beck ran over to her when he remembered something. The Librarian stopped and greeted him. "Oh, hello again." She glanced back at the scorched building that was once Beck, Zed, and Mara's apartment. "Does Cyrus do that all the time now?"
Beck shrugged. "I don't necessarily know. But maybe I'll ask him when I get the time."
"Can you bring me with when you do that?"
Beck grinned under his mask. "Of course! If I get the chance."
The Librarian giggled. "Good." She started to walk away, when Beck stopped her.
"Wait, Librarian!" He pulled out the baton that she loaned him to get to the apartments. "I almost forgot to give this back." He pulled out the baton that she loaned him to get to the apartments.
The Librarian shook her head and pushed it back. "It's okay. You keep it. Besides, how will you get away from Clu's forces if you have no baton?" She started walking away and then turned around.
"And don't call me that. It doesn't have a good ring to it. Just call me Evelyn." She whispered to him. "As long as you don't share that name with other programs."
She then disappeared into the shadows, leaving Beck alone. I can't believe that she shared her own name with me. He smirked. And Alpha told me that she wouldn't show or tell me anything.
He turned and rezzed the bike that 'Evelyn' gave to him and headed to the hideout to figure things out with Tron's help. Hopefully, they could work out some form of strategy for the future. And maybe they can come to some terms of agreement with Alpha.
…
Alpha kept riding her bike through the city until she got back to the apartment that she shared with Sky. She pulled off her disk and switched it back to her stealth outfit. The one that was almost black with a several neon green circuits covering her body.
She walked into the apartment and greeted Sky. "Hello."
Sky looked up and smiled. "Feel refreshed?"
Alpha nodded slowly and stifled a yawn under her mask. "Yeah, and… tired." Sky stood up to help her, but she waved him away. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I can make it to bed on my own."
Alpha walked up the stairs and into her room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She turned and walked over to the bed, starting to tear the sheets and pillows off the bed and throwing them across the room, away from her. Then she layed down on the bed and closed her eyes, waiting to slide into oblivion.
A memory came to her instead.
She sat with her boyfriend on top of a high building. The view was magnificent up there, they could practically see everything, including several distant Cities. Radon, Beryllium, and Arsenic were some of those neighboring cities.
All of them radiated a different color. Radon glowed a beautiful dark green, Beryllium emanated bright yellow, and Arsenic was practically all white. It was a gorgeous sight to bestow the eyes.
Her boyfriend leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him back. Her white and neon green circuits glowing brightly. Her blue eyes sparkled and glowed with excitement. She opened her mouth and he slid his tongue inside. She moaned at the feeling. And she loved it.
They pulled away for air, breathing hard. He grinned at her, she smiled back. He reached over and traced one of her white circuits. She sighed and closed her eyes. She felt a shiver run up and down her body from the touch.
She reached out and touched one of his white circuits. He closed his eyes too. For a while they just sat there on the rooftop, cuddling with each other and touching and kissing… all the romantic stuff.
He reached his arm over and around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. He leaned closer to her and whispered. "I love you."
She smiled. They've said that to each other so many other times before and they'll keep saying it. There was no way that they could express what they both really felt for each other. It was impossible to describe with words and can only portion it with actions. She knew he loved her, and she felt the same way.
She kissed his cheek. Then she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She smiled into the soft, cool breeze and whispered. "I love you too, Beck…"
Alpha felt sleep getting closer. She frowned. She missed Beck so much and hoped that he was out there somewhere. He had to be out there. She could somehow feel it. One cycle, she'll see him again. And they'll finally be together again.
She squeezed her eyes closed tighter. No one will stand between Beck and me. I will not get distracted with other programs. Sleep was getting even closer. She repeated her vows in her head. I fight for the last remaining ISOs. I fight for the Users. I fight for freedom… I fight for Beck.
She closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her.
…
Sky sat down on the chair and sighed. "Everything is going according to plan. Alpha's unharmed and in one peace. I must continue to secure her well-being. The Resistance Movement is rebuilding in a safe location that I don't know yet. Hopefully we'll rendezvous with everyone soon."
He cringed when he remembered the last time he was on a mission like this. "And this time, I won't be a failure… not again…"
Okay, of course, Cyrus came for Paige again... and failed. Beck knows The Librarian's true name (Evelyn). The Librarian will be called by her real name from now on. Alpha and Beck finally met through their disguises... and she was a total jerk to Beck and neither of them didn't even know it. ;P Alpha really is Ally (It was obvious for most of you, congratulations on figuring that out early) and she hopes to find Beck so they can be together and happy again. (That's so sweet!) Little so either of them know what Ally did to Beck and mentally hurt him. :( And Sky has his own painful and humiliating past of his own to hide. But I might no reveal it until the next book. (Don't worry, the next book will come out soon. ;) I also need you people's opinion. Now that you know that Alpha's really Ally, I need to know whether you prefer to call her in narrations. Her programmed name (Alpha) or her nickname (Ally). Please review which one I should call her. That'd be greatly appreciated! :) TRON LIVES! Toodles! XD
