Tron: Sacrifice
Episode Thirteen: Visitor
"HOW SOON CAN Beck leave?"
Tron was leaning forward to Kassandra, trying to keep from being overheard.
"I'll have to run some tests, but he's much improved. My best guess: He can leave by the next cycle."
Tron nodded.
"The ex-commander, I'm guessing?"
"Paige." Tron looked at the ISO. "You don't trust her."
"She reads Occupation. She reeks of it."
"Programs can change, Kassandra, for the better or worse." Tron walked away from her and joined Paige. "You're right."
"About?"
"The ISOs don't trust you just like you don't trust them."
"I thought it obvious. How soon can we leave?"
"Her best guess is one cycle."
"The sooner the better. This place is starting to affect me like it does with Beck."
"What do mean 'like it does Beck?'" Tron shifted his weight in unease.
"Last cycle," Paige began, glancing around or Beck, "we were talking, and he suddenly jumped like some program pushed him in the Sea. He swore that he heard someone calling my name. But there wasn't anyone around who knew me besides him."
Tron shifted again.
"That's it."
"He said he had to figure something out." Paige looked nonchalantly at her hands as Beck came in, trying not to looking like they were talking about him. "He promised to keep me informed."
"Good work."
"I don't like spying on him."
"I sorry you have to," Tron got up as Beck drew closer to them, "but we have to keep tabs on him as he recovers. Keep me posted."
Beck came to them, and sat beside Paige. "Kassandra told me the good news."
"Just a few more tests, and we can go home." Tron said truthfully happy.
"And I need you out," Kassandra called. "Since you are all eager to leave, I need to start now."
"Yes, sir." Paige mocked her, and stood up stiffly to leave.
Tron gave Beck a look of good-humored annoyance, and followed after Paige.
"Finally," Kassandra gestured to Beck to sit in the pod. "Now these are just a few conscious tests. I'll ask you a series of questions, then we'll move on."
"'Kay."
"Your designation?"
"Beck, mechanic."
The questions were a memory test, and he aced it easily. Then Kassandra started showing him images, and he had to distinguish if they were from his memories or Ada's. He passed with gold. She had him go into his subconscious then for the last time. She was setting the pod, and Beck was waiting patiently when he saw a shadow flicker in one of the dark windows inside the enclosed labs.
Beck stayed silent, not knowing if it was Ada's memory blending int with the present. But then, the shadow took form. A program stood lock inside the glass.
"There's someone in there." He pointed to the locked laboratory.
"What?" Kassandra turned and Beck blinked.
The program's shadow was gone.
"Don't feel bad." She said when he apologized, "sometimes I think I see someone in there too. It's just the contrast of the light and the darkness of shadows. It plays tricks on your vision perception."
The explanation seemed credible enough, but as soon as she turned away, the Shadow returned, and stood there watching him. It was still there as Kassandra sent him to met Ada once again. Only he didn't meet Ada. He came face to face with Clu in her memory, holding his yellow lit disc to derezz him yet again.
"You wanted to see me, Clu?"
"Yes. Sit." Clu said cheerfully. "The mask?"
"For my reputation and safety. It has been a long time," the program told Clu as the crowd booed at Dyson for backing away from Ruby's dangerous onslaught.
"Yes," Clu took a sideways glance. "A very long time."
"Dyson said you have a job for me?"
"Yes." Clu leaned forward with sudden excitement. "I want you to program the perfect combat warrior."
"Warrior?" The program cocked his cloaked head. "Interesting choice of words."
"Who cares about words? That is what I want. A ruthless-" Ruby struck hard at Dyson and jerked her elbow back into his face "-killing machine. Take Ruby for example, but this assassin would be programed with extensive knowledge of hand-to-hand combat and weaponry tactics. The ultimate Occupation assassin."
"That is quite the project."
"I need a warrior." Clu looked out at the hoverfield. "And this is embarrassing me."
The masked program didn't need to look.
"Yes," he said. "I can see why Dyson would embarrass you, but his opponent is strong."
"I want you to base my assassin off her. Ruby is passionate, though she fights for Tron. This warrior would be programed never to stray from me." Clu smiled at the very thought.
The program didn't respond.
"It would be a great honor for you," Clu's vioce stiffened with annoyance and displeasure at the program's silence, "to build me this weapon against the revolution."
"Of course," the program turned his head as if to look at him. "I am no mercenary. Though I do not understand what isn't to be gained if you were to Repurpose Dyson."
"There is only so far you can go. Dyson is getting old. He's slowing down. Repurposing wouldn't help him in the long run. I'll give Dyson a comfortable retirement, and my new assassin will take his place."
"Retirement?"
"Yes, retirement. He is isn't young, but he still has his values if I should call for his service again."
"Very well," the program said, turning to watch the fight. "I shall build you the perfect warrior."
Clu smiled freely, and then turned to watch the remainder of the round.
"Beck."
Beck woke up in the lab. The pod was open and someone was shaking his shoulder.
"Able?"
Able just smiled.
"Able, you're alive?" Beck sat up and Able stood back a little. "How?"
"There's no time for questions, Beck. Listen closely-"
"How did you survive?"
"Beck." Able said and shot him a look to silence him. "There's no time for explanation. I need to tell you information that will win the revolution! Now listen. There is an ally that you will need to win."
"Where? Who?"
"Just listen! There's no time. You need to find that ally."
"How can I find him if you won't tell me where or who to look for?"
"You'll know where to look." Able said with a smile. "When the time comes."
Able turned his back on Beck and head for the darkened lab.
"It was your shadow." Beck said. "Why where you hiding? Wait, stay!"
"No, I can't."
Beck launched his body off the pod, and ran in front of Able, blocking the laboratory door.
"Everyone thinks you're dead, Able."
"They're supposed to."
"Why?"
"I can't tell you, Beck." Able calmly laid a hand on Beck's shoulder. "Find the ally and then you will understand."
"Help me understand now!"
Able looked at him forlornly.
"You will understand. Now you have to let me go."
"No."
"Beck. I know you want answers, but I have to leave you now. We'll meet again."
"The others will want to see you."
"They can't- You will understand why."
"Able-"
"It was good to see you, Beck."
With that, Able marched around Beck and the lab door opened for him. Beck tried to follow after before the door slide shut, but he was too late. It closed Able into darkness, and left Beck feeling all the more alone. He slammed his fist against the door once before going to the window.
Able was there; his shadow waved at him, and then melted into the darkness.
"Able."
The science lab doors hissed open and Kassandra walked in. She stared at Beck for a moment, then at the pod.
"How did you get out?"
"I just woke up." He said somewhat truthfully.
"Well," she said. "Congratulations. You can leave."
The sub was ready before Beck could relocate Able again, and Tron was getting everything ready with a smile on his face. Paige was near him checking of items as Tron listed them off. Beck's head was swimming when he saw Zed and Mara.
'They should know.' He thought, and started walking over to them.
'No, Beck.'
'Ada!'
'Able has his reasons, and he said you will understand all the secrecy hiding his return. Wait for the right moment.'
'I have to tell them. I am not going to have anymore secrets!'
"Wow, Beck!"
Zed poked him in the shoulder.
"What?"
"You looked like you were in pain just a second ago."
"Don't think too hard now, Beck." Mara joked.
"There's something I have to tell you." Beck said.
"We know, Beck." Zed said. "You sorry for not telling us about being the Renegade. Just thinking back when Tesler offered that reward for the Renegade, I could have-"
"Zed!" Mara said, rolling her eyes.
"I told you you got me." Beck said, pushing Able out of his mind.
"He was telling the truth!" Zed said.
"Hey! The best way to lie is to tell the truth!" Beck said laughing.
"We're heading out!" Tron called over to them.
"Wait."
They turned to see Quorra walking to into the sub bay.
"I want to come with you."
"No." Tron said simply.
"I want to fight Clu. For a free Grid. For the Creator."
"Please understand. You have to believe me, Quorra. I want to accept your help, but it just isn't the time. It is too soon for the ISOs to join. If Clu finds out before the time is right he could use the information against us, against ISOs."
"But there are so many programs, basic and ISO who would be glad to help. They're here because of Clu's disdain for them. They'll join you without you asking."
"Quorra."
"We'll be here when you need us," Quorra said defeated, and Tron nodded.
She watched them enter the sub, and it floated for a few Micros, then sank down into the water.
"Here is everything you could possibly need." Clu lead the scientist into a special laboratory.
The scientist walked up to a counter with all sorts of devices on a tray. He examined one particularly brutal looking utensil, picking it up.
"Impressive."
"Aside from making my warrior perfect, I have something else I'd like you to use."
Clu lead him back a code authorization lock, and scanned his disc. The doors whisked open, and Clu stepped inside, followed closely by the other program.
Clu went directly to a certain alcove, where he took out a box. At his touch the box disintegrated instantly, allowing a bright yellow glow to escape its prison.
The scientist stared at it in awe.
"It cannot be..."
"It is." Clu carefully handed the fractured piece of disc to the program. "This is the last surviving piece of the Abraxas Virus."
"Now, I see." The program stared at the yellow shard that glowed so invitingly. "You want me to create a virus."
"The perfect warrior." Clu confirmed. "I don't think I need to tell you everything, certainly not every part of my plan."
"I create the virus, completely incapable of thinking on its own, completely devoted to you and your cause."
"Can you impress me more?"
"Your target is Tron and the Renegade. If Dyson delays you much longer, this virus will delete them from the Grid."
"First it will ensure the demise of the ISOs. Tron and the petty Renegade can watch them be erased. I plan to already have them in my captivity."
"So demeaning."
"Exactly." Clu smiled. "We think with one mind. Have any ideas?"
"The Renegade can die, but do not derezz Tron."
"Why not?"
"Repurpose him." The program said humorously. "The only reason why the rebellion started was because Tron still lived."
"Not every program knew he lived. Your point?"
"This time, ensure all programs on the grid Tron is no longer for the Revolution. Make him your soldier."
"Repurposing takes away as much as it creates. Tron would be no good to me Repurposed."
"Can you be so sure?" The program asked confidently, still holding the virus like it was precious to him.
"Yes." Clu reached for the virus. "Observing Tron's old team, I discovered some of them could fight their Repurposing. I had to take them off duty, experiment on them. Eventually, they learned to reject it. They were of use to me no more."
"Are there any left?"
"No. Once I discovered they phased in and out of Repurposing, I derezzed them all. They could no longer be trusted."
"Perhaps," the program said, carefully lowering the virus into Clu's waiting hand, "you would allow me to reconfigure the Repurposing process. Make it more stable."
"I will think about it." Clu placed the infected disc shard back into the box. "In the meantime, I want you to create a design for my warrior."
"Of course, your excellency."
"And it must be perfect."
