CHAPTER 6
The station operated normally, Recognizers came and went on schedule. Xevra made sure to keep herself hidden in the control tower unless she was needed elsewhere. Within a dozen microCycles Xevra had complete control of the station. She had been discretely installing the corrupted Identity Discs on the Programs who stayed. Xevra was surrounded by blank-eyed servants: it made her feel almost, happy in a way. With their ever-serving attitude, she began the search for CLU.
Xevra began having the control tower operators keep a detailed log of where each Recognizer had come from and where they were going, as well as what they were carrying. Most of the Recognizers coming to Tron City held Programs for the Games, some of the ones leaving carried CLU loyal Programs. Xevra heard whispers of an army being built by CLU, but she was never able to substantiate that claim.
"You fool! This isn't getting me anywhere!"
The Program's blank eyes stared back.
"Aghh!" Xevra threw her Disc, cutting the Program down where he stood. She was so sick of it all. Sick of the blank stares. Sick of nothing going right. It had been almost 70 microCycles and she still wasn't any closer to finding CLU.
Xevra kicked at the pile of voxel cubes, sending them scattering around the room. She heard the rumble of a Recognizer landing at one of the pads. It didn't stay long before rumbling off towards Tron City.
A Program burst into the room. "Xevra, we have the information you require."
Xevra turned around, shock on her face. She hadn't heard those words before. "What is it? What have you found? Did you find CLU?"
"No," The Program said.
"What do you mean, no? Why bother me if you haven't found him yet?" Xevra's Disc hummed menacingly.
The Program went on, unbothered by the weapon she held. "We have not located the target, but we have information on where he may be located."
Xevra narrowed her eyes. "Go on."
"We have learned that CLU has a Command Ship which he uses to travel the Grid as well as observe the Games. We have heard he may be making an appearance at the next big Games event in Tron City."
Xevra smiled. Finally, this is the information she had waited so long for. She walked up to the Program and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well done, Program."
"I live to serve you, Xevra." The Program said blankly. "What do you require of me?"
A beam of light emerged from the Program's back. "Your services are no longer required." The Program derezzed.
Xevra turned to the Black Guard she kept by her side. "Let's go, we're leaving. But first, we have some work to do."
He started from the beginning, Taren's apartment in Bismuth.
Taren stepped back in shock as he opened the door. "I didn't realize CLU was so interested in my predicament."
The Program turned his helmeted head towards Taren and a low growl escaped.
Taren swallowed nervously and stepped aside "Right, I'll just be over here if you need me." He went and stood as far away from CLU's imposing Program as he could.
The Program walked to the middle of the main room and looked out the windows to see a stormy view of Bismuth's metropolitan area.
"I just had that window replaced a Cycle back. That damned Program jumped right through it! Didn't think she had it in here after sustaining the wounds she had. Of course, she didn't survive the fall I'm sure." Taren couldn't help saying. One look from the other Program and he went back to being quiet in a corner.
The Program heard all he needed and left without a word.
He was programmed to be efficient and fiercely loyal to CLU, a lethal combination for anyone he was sent to find. The Program was called Rinzler.
Rinzler made it to the ground underneath Taren's windows. He knelt down and placed his hand on the smooth black surface of the Grid, closing his eyes to focus on his task. He opened his eyes after accessing the Grid and saw a blue trail of footprints leading away from the building and towards the distant Light Rail station.
The apartment was a mess, broken electronics were scattered around the room. Rinzler dug through the mess and saw the remains of a miniature I/O tower. He tossed it aside, it was broken beyond fixing, he would get nothing of value from it. He continued to dig around the small room. There was a door leading to a bathroom. Shards of mirror lay scattered on the floor, reflecting the white lighting strips in the walls.
All his searching led him nowhere, if she got on the Light Rail she could have gotten off at any number of stops. He didn't even know what her plan was.
Rinzler grabbed a baton from his thigh and was about to leave when a beep came from the communicator on his wrist. He pressed a button and a voice sounded in his helmet as an orange hologram popped up.
"Where are you?" It was Jarvis, his voice crackled.
"Busy." Rinzler growled. He didn't talk unless he had to, and he made an extra effort to never speak to Jarvis.
"Yes, well," Jarvis fumbled with his data-pad nervously, "word just reached us about an attack at Argon City's Recognizer station. It may be the work of who you're tracking. CLU wants you to head there and investigate."
Rinzler nodded and turned off his communicator.
The station was calmed down and things were proceeding as normal when Rinzler arrived at Argon City's Recognizer station. The station operator approached to explain what had happened.
"We didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. Someone attacked the guards at the front gate and left. We only found one guard however, the other guard was last seen logging out a Recognizer. He said he was chasing a rogue Hacker Program and would return shortly. We haven't seen either the guard or the Recognizer since." The station operator led Rinzler to the site of the attack.
Rinzler looked around, everything looked normal. Two guards had replaced the derezzed ones and were trying not to look interested in what Rinzler was doing.
"Which was did they go?" Rinzler asked the station operator.
The station operator seemed surprised to hear Rinzler speak. "I was told they headed in the direction of Tron City."
Rinzler knew where to start looking.