CHAPTER 5
"I thought you said she was derezzed."
The Program flustered, "No Program could survive wounds like that, let alone the jump!"
"She isn't just any Program." He motioned to another Program standing in the shadows. "You know what to do."
The Program growled in response.
Xevra blocked the Disc with her sword, sending it ricocheting back to the Black Guard who threw it. She advanced on him, raising her sword for a killing blow. At the last moment she feigned left and sheathed her sword. Xevra ripped the Disc from the Guards back and quickly replaced it with one from her pack. The Black Guard collapsed, rebooting.
Xevra was afraid that would happen, the Black Guard's programming was a lot more complex than a regular Programs. The corrupted Disc forced them to shut down and reboot in order to work properly. That left Xevra dealing with the last Black Guard on her own. Thankfully the other Security Programs were still investigating the hole she had blown in the wall, but that distraction wouldn't last much longer.
The Black Guard grabbed a baton from his thigh and it opened to reveal an orange glowing blade. Xevra brought her blade down as he raised his, easily blocking her swing. She kept her ground and swung again. He maneuvered his blade effortlessly to block and counterattacked, the sword like an extension of his arm.
Xevra stumbled backwards, barely avoiding the tip of his blade. Her hand-to-hand combat skills were not very good, considering her job was taking out targets or retrieving information without being seen.
The Black Guard pressed forward with his attacks, swinging and jabbing, leaving Xevra no room to counterattack. Again she fell backwards, this time her cloak falling victim to the blade, a hole burnt through it. Xevra landing on her back, wincing with pain as her wound was jolted on the hard ground. The Black Guard stood over her, weapon raised to strike the final blow.
You give up too easily.
Xevra felt a surge of power go through her, the yellow lights on her suit pulsed brightly. With a roar she slammed her palm into the Black Guard's chest. He flew backwards, derezzing on impact against the side of the central tower. A shock wave of yellow lightning spread out around Xevra.
The other Security Programs began to notice the commotion and rushed over to help. They stopped dead in their tracks, seeing Xevra standing in a field of yellow lightning, her cloak hovering around her from the static charge in the air. There was a noise behind Xevra. She turned her head to see the Black Guard finish rebooting and stand up.
He approached her slowly. "What are your orders?"
Xevra turned back towards the crowd of station Programs staring in shocked awe. "Listen well, Programs!" Xevra's gravelly voice rang out in the open space of the station. A few Programs jumped back in surprise at hearing her suddenly speak.
"If you wish to remain in one piece you will obey my orders. I bring you freedom, freedom from CLU's controlling hand." Xevra let the words flow as they came to her. "No longer will you need to fear the Recognizers patrolling the skies, hunting down Programs for the Games." Xevra gestured to the myriad of vehicles in the station. Yellow lightning danced on her fingertips.
A few murmurs were heard in the crowd. Good. They are becoming interested.
Xevra continued, "All I need from you is your cooperation in helping me bring CLU down once and for all. Once my task is accomplished you will be free to do whatever your Code desires!"
Some of the Programs nodded, some remained skeptical. One brave Program stepped forward. Raising her voice she said, "I must admit, this sounds appealing. But how do we know we can trust you?" The Programs echoed her words.
Xevra smiled and took a few steps forward. "A valid question, Program. I've already freed you from the watchful eyes of CLU's Black Guard here. And that's just the start."
Another Program stepped forward. "But what about the one behind you?"
Xevra growled inwardly. Stupid misguided Programs. "Him? He has been… converted. He no longer serves CLU. Do you?" She turned her gaze towards the corrupted Black Guard. "Tell them."
He stepped up next to Xevra. "I no longer follow the orders of CLU. I am free from his influence."
"Just as I told you, freedom." Xevra lifted her arms, leaving a trail of yellow sparks. "Now who will join me in my quest to destroy CLU?"
No one moved. Xevra began to get concerned. Then a Program stepped forward, the slave Program.
"I will follow you." He said blankly.
A few more Programs joined the slave Program, stating their agreement. Soon only a handful of Programs were left in the original group, the skeptical female Program among them.
"You say we are free." She said, "Then prove it. Let those who wish to leave."
Xevra thought a moment. "Very well, you and whoever else may go. I will have the Guard escort you, in case there are any Programs lurking about who are loyal to CLU." Xevra whispered to the Black Guard, "Make sure none of them make it to Tron City alive. Bring me their Identity Discs as proof."
The female Program glared suspiciously at Xevra, but left with her group, the Black Guard bringing up the rear.
"Now, the rest of you split into two groups; Security Programs on the right, everyone else on the left." The Programs did as they were told and separated into two groups.
"Security Programs, continue your rounds as normal. Report to me if there is anything unusual." She addressed the other, smaller group of Programs: the ones who controlled the station's functions and a few pilot Programs. "I want the head of this station to come with me. The rest of you go about your business as normal. I will speak with you more later on what I plan to do."
The Programs dispersed and the head of the station followed Xevra into one of the empty guard towers.