Feral's not staying to see what happens next. She's going to run; as fast and far as she can.

To avoid confusion between spoken speech and signed speech…
"Spoken speech…"
' Italicized Signed speech…'
I hope this makes it easier to read.

Sadly, I haven't learned how to put italics in the notes...

Feral continued to sit, unmoving, staring at the door for several long minutes. When it became apparent that CLU was not coming back; she almost sagged with relief.

The thought that—while CLU was gone now, he had said that he would not be gone long—propelled her up and across the room to the desk Grabbing the canister of energy, she drank it as quickly as she could. She would need as much energy as she could get for what she was going to do.

She was going to escape.

Feral tried to access the code on the desk to unlock a drawer that she had seen CLU keeping extra energy in before. When the lock code refused to give her access, she took her disc to it, hacking at the edges. Her disc carved gouges into the desk's code, causing parts of it to fragment until she could reach the energy stored inside. Removing the containers that she found there, she drank all three as fast as she could. The only sound in the room now was the sound of her gulping thirstily.

Picking up as many of the empty containers and broken pieces of the desk as she could carry, she brought them over near the door. CLU had left a guard to assist her if she needed help? Well, she would use that, then. Positioning herself to the side of the door, she pressed herself tightly against the wall. She took a deep breath, raising the collection of debris in her arms up as high as she could while she did so.

It was going to be a boring duty this microcycle again. The guard glanced down the hallway, making sure he was alone, before shifting himself to get more comfortable. Boring, however, there were worse duties than making certain that CLU's glitchy little pet program didn't try to wander off alone; or require assistance. Not that she had ever requested assistance before; some of the other guards had a betting pool going on how long—if ever—she would go before she did so. Most of them didn't bother to bet; believing that she would rather undergo a code malfunction before she asked anyone for anything at all. All that was likely to be required of him today would be to simply stand here until the Leader returned.

The guard let his thoughts drift slightly, subroutines running to let him make plans for after his duty shift. Maybe a club and some excess energy was in order; and a little time interfacing and overloading with one of the sirens that might be off-duty from the armory would be nice. Which club to choose though? End of Line was fun, if a bit pricey. Maybe head to Southbridge and try to meet up with someone before choosing? Not the Recycle, that place was just too rough and filled with dubious programs. He had gone there once on a dare early in his runtime, and had no intentions of ever going back.

With these subroutines running processes, he was caught off guard when it happened. The crash and piercing scream from the other side of the door startled him so badly that he almost dropped his staff. He opened the door, trying to stay as calm as possible while getting into CLU's quarters as quickly as he could. If the Leader returned to find his pet damaged…well, better not to think about that now. Just get in and find out what had happened.

Feral was still pressed against the wall next to the door when the frantic guardsman came rushing in to find out what was wrong.

She stepped behind him as he passed her, and slashed her spinning disc through his back. Not waiting to watch as he derezzed; she darted out into the hallway. This time, she knew where she was going. A short time later, Feral was walking out the door of the building.

Ducking into one of the first alleys that she passed, she used her disc to change her suit settings. Now her suit was covered by a long, calf-length black robe with a deep hood that covered her head and hid her face in its shadows. A thin, glowing orange circuit line edged the hood, cuffs, and front edges of the robe. She had seen other programs wearing similar robes on patrol; and hoped that it would help her to remain unnoticed.

Feral made her way towards one of the 'problem' areas of the city that she had been to on patrol. It was a risk, because it was regularly patrolled by Rinzler and the BlackGuard. However, it was also the fastest way she could think of to find a contact that could get her to one of the rebel groups, maybe one that had a hiding place in the Outlands that Rinzler had told her about. From what Rinzler had said, the Outlands were her best chance to escape from CLU's reach.

It took a while to reach the Grid sector that was her initial destination. She wove her way through dark alleys and side streets, detouring twice to avoid patrolling BlackGuards. Once there, she wasted no time in determining which program to ask for information. One particular program had caught her eye. He didn't leave a specific area of the street she was on. While he did not appear to have anything to sell; other programs regularly came up to him. Words would be exchanged, and a few times a payment of some sort seemed to be made. What could you sell that could not be seen?

Feral worked her way through the programs on the street, taking her time doing so. She stopped near where the program was standing, and acted as though she was interested in the shop's window display. When the program came a little closer, she turned as though to leave and 'accidentally' walked into him.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" she said to him. "It was my fault. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going."

The program took a small step back from her and shrugged slightly. "It's fine," he told her. "Don't worry about it…"

"Maybe you can help me," she told him. "I seem to be having a little trouble finding what I came here for."

"Oh?" he asked, only paying her the slightest attention now. "What were you trying to find?"

Feral stepped closer, so as not to be overheard by one of the programs that passed by them occasionally. In a low voice she said, "Someone who might be able to introduce a program to a rebel group. Someone who could help a program find their way out of the city, perhaps even as far away as the Outlands."

Now she had the program's attention. He stiffened slightly at her words. "You will not find that product here," he said. "The shop you are looking for is in the main entertainment sector. Try Zuse at the End of Line. Maybe he will know where the shop you are looking for has been moved to." The program turned and started to walk away.

"Should I say who sent me, if there is a bonus for recommending me to this shop?" she asked.

The program stopped walking. Without turning around, he said, "No," and continued to walk away.

Feral watched him go for a moment; then turned and walked away in the opposite direction. She was headed to the entertainment sector.

The End of Line Club. It was the largest club in the city—some claimed in the entire Grid. It was said that if an entertainment existed on the Grid, you could find it at the End of Line. And if it wasn't immediately available…request it, and they would have it available before the end of the mylacycle. Feral had seen the club's lights from CLU's window, and passed it by on her patrols with Rinzler; but she had never gone inside of the tower that housed it before.

While it was still early in the microcycle, the End of Line had quite a few patrons in it. They moved about the club; some chatting with other programs, others dancing to the music being played by the two MP3 programs that were DJ-ing in a booth nearby. A few sat by themselves at the bar or at nearby tables, drinking small glasses of energy in various colors. A white-haired program in a white gridsuit that reminded her of a tux and tails was mixing drinks at the bar. His skin was very pale, almost as white as his gridsuit. He was talking very quietly to a program at the bar. While the other program seemed agitated, the bartender was relaxed and smiling. Feral watched as he shook his head 'no' at the something the other program had said. "Perhaps another time," she heard him say as the other program left, looking unsatisfied as he walked away.

A moment later, the white-haired made his way down the bar to where Feral sat.

"And what can I get for you?" he asked her with a smile. "I do not recall seeing you in here before…."

"No, I have not been in before," she replied. "I am looking for a program called Zuse. Someone told me I could find him here." Feral could not keep the hopeful tone from her voice.

The bartender looked at her as he picked up a glass and poured a shot of energy for another program to take. When they were alone again, he said, "Yes, you can sometimes find Zuse here. But he does not speak with just anyone, you know," he added in a teasing voice, still smiling at her. "What makes you think that he will be interested in talking to you?"

"I don't know," she said. "I just…it is very important to me that I speak with him." Feral managed to keep the pleading out of her voice, but only just.

"Oh, darling. It is very important to everyone to speak with Zuse" the program told her, patronizingly. "He speaks to the one that it is important for HIM to speak to."

Feral shook her head. "This was not…I need…oh, it does not matter; I will find someone else." She started to rise to leave. The hood of her cloak had slipped back when she shook her head, and now slid back even more to show part of her face. Feral reached up to pull it forward and down again; only to be stopped by the hand that the program placed on her arm.

"Wait," he said to her. "I am Castor, Zuse's personal assistant and secretary. I can get you in to see Zuse." Castor reached under the bar and picked up a cane that looked as though made of glass. Stepping out from behind the bar, he twirled the cane and tucked it under his arm. Offering Feral his free arm, he said, "Come with me." He escorted her away from the bar, chatting in a friendly manner as he did so.

"I am also the manager her at the End of Line," Castor told her as they made their way past several tables and booths. "It can keep me busy; however, it does make it easier on Zuse to keep track of various matters. And one learns such interesting things while managing." He led her to a dais. Tapping it with the cane, he caused a stairway to light up and solidify. "Do you like it? I programmed it myself," he said proudly. "It leads to Zuse's private lounge." With a sweeping gesture of his cane, Castor ushered Feral up the stairs. Half-way up the stairs, he stopped and leaned down towards the DJ booth where the two MP3 programs were working.

"Boys, I have business to attend to," he told them. "Make certain that the kiddies stay entertained." He then continued to lead her to the lounge at the top of the stairs.

CLU stood in his quarters; surveying the damage left behind. The floor was littered with empty energy canisters and pieces of fragmented code. More pieces of code were still fragmenting and breaking away from his desk, which had been hacked apart in places. Near the door, a scattering of stray pixels was all that remained of the guard that Feral had derezzed in escaping.

Rinzler stood nearby with a small group of the BlackGuard behind him. His head occasionally turned as he took a closer look at the chaos that had been CLU's orderly quarters. Looking back at CLU, he waited for his orders to be given.

CLU stood in the middle of the room. He appeared to be calm, almost even bored; except for the tight clenching of his fists. Rinzler could hear the creak of CLU's gloves as the sysadmin squeezed his hands into fists as tightly as possible. Without lifting his head to see if anyone was paying attention, CLU quietly spoke two words.

"Find her."

One of the guards stepped forward. "Sir, do you wish for us…" he began.

"Find her!" shouted CLU, turning on the hapless guard. Falling silent, the guard stepped back.

"Find her, and bring her to me! Now!" screamed CLU in a rage.

Rinzler bowed his head on acknowledgement of the order and left; trailing guards in his wake.

At the End of Line, Castor showed Feral to Zuse's private lounge. From the lounge, she could see almost everything in the club. Music drifted up from the floor where programs were dancing. Despite everything, the rhythm of the beat made her want to dance, as well. She squashed the urge down, following Castor and observing him with watchful eyes.

Pointing at the white couches and chairs that made a seating area along one of the walls, Castor invited her to make herself comfortable. He leaned against a bar that was built along another wall.

Feral sat down, fidgeting slightly as she did so. "When can I meet Zuse?" she asked.

Castor gave her a smile. "Why, as soon as you tell me why CLU's pet program is looking for Zuse," he said. "I would not be much of an assistant or secretary if I did not learn such things first, now would I?"

Even with the hood of the robe up, it was impossible for her to hide the shock that showed on her face. "What do you mean, 'CLU's pet program'?" she asked, her voice betraying only a trace of her nervousness.

Castor's smile grew bigger as he tipped his head to the side to regard her. "I told you, one learns interesting things managing here," he told her lightly.

Feral looked at him for a moment; then bolted from her seat on the couch and headed towards the stairway. She pulled up short at the head of the stairs as she realized that Castor had coded the stairs to disappear when they had entered the lounge.

"Oh, don't worry," Castor said humor evident in his voice. "I do not plan on telling anyone that you are here. However, I am still waiting to hear why you are here."

She stood at the top of the stairway, head bowed, motionless for a few moments. She let out the breath that she had been holding and raised her head. Without looking at Castor, she spoke. "I need to find a way to get to the Outlands. There are rebel groups hiding out there. I want to join one and live there with them. Now, can I please meet Zuse?"

"Why would you want to go all the way into the Outlands? There are rebel groups that you can join her in the city," Castor asked, continuing to lounge against the bar. "And as for meeting Zuse…you already have, darling."

"You're Zuse?" she said, surprised. "You said that you were his private assistant and secretary."

"Yes. Well, it helps to for Zuse to remain…inaccessible to most. Adds to the mystique, you see. Also, people with let things slip to a club manager and secretary that they might not want 'Zuse' to know."

Speaking of things for 'Zuse' to know; just why do you want to join the rebels? I cannot recommend a group to you without knowing that. Especially—as I said—to CLU's pet program."

Feral took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am not CLU's pet," she told Castor bitterly. "But he wants me to be." She lifted the hood of her robe and moved it down to rest on her shoulders. Raising her face to Castor's, Feral let him take a long look at the swollen bruises on her face.

"So, CLU spanked his little pet too hard," he said, humor still in his voice. "And now you want to run off and join the rebels to get even? Is that what happened?"

"No," she said, looking away. "No, he did…something else to me. The beating was because I struggled too much."

Castor looked hard at her now. The smile appeared to have frozen stiffly on place on his handsome face. "I…see," he said—carefully—a moment later. "CLU always did have a taste for unique things…as long as they weren't ISO-related." He straightened and walked around the bar.

"I think that you could use a drink," he told her. "I know that I can use one." He busied himself behind the bar, mixing small amounts of different colored energies into glasses. Taking a sip from his, he handed her a small glass filled with glowing pink energy. "Try this," he said. "It might help. You look like you could stand to relax. Also, there is not much energy to be found in the Outlands," he added.

Feral sat back down on one of the couches. Taking a cautious sip, she tried the drink that she had been given. It had a pleasant taste, and tingled slightly on her tongue as she sipped it.

"There are several different rebel groups in the Outlands," Castor said. "Well, on the edges of the Outlands, anyhow," he amended a moment later. "Are you wanting to hide away from CLU forever; or did you want to join a more active group and raid or fight against him?"

"I had not really thought about that," she admitted to the program. "All I know is that I have to get away from CLU. Almost anything has to be better than this." She took another, larger drink from her glass.

"Glad to hear that you think so," said Castor, smiling. He finished the rest of his drink and put down his glass. "It will make things much easier. I assume that the further away from the city, the better?" He began to describe various groups that he could introduce her to; telling her what their goals were, how they were trying to resist CLU, why they had rebelled, and how far away from the city, or—if still in the City—from CLU they were. Some of the groups he told her of were not in the Outlands at all; but were in other cities on the Grid.

After listening to Castor tell her about several rebel groups for some time, Feral realized that the music from the dance floor below seemed further away, somehow. Dimly, she noticed that Castor had stopped talking and was simply looking at her now.

"Well," he said. "That took much longer than I anticipated. Even CLU's BlackGuards could not have drunk that much and stayed active for this long. I took the liberty of adding something to your drink...a little code of my own devising. Something to make you more...relaxed."

"Oh, not to worry," he added, noting the fear in her eyes. "I said I have no intentions of telling CLU that you are here." He rose from his chair and walked over to where Feral was slowly starting to slump into the couch. Castor sat down next to her on the couch. "You see," Castor told her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "CLU is not the only one with a taste for unique things."

I, however, do not like the idea of damaging beauty—which it seems he is willing to do." He moved a stray strand of hair back from her face.

Inside her mind, Feral was screaming wordlessly. Her thoughts raced madly, as she found herself trapped in a different version of the same nightmare that she had been trying to escape from.

Rinzler was not in a pleasant mood. He was hoping that Feral had gotten away safely out of CLU's reach. He had an idea as to where she would be trying to go.

The Outlands.

He had told her that there was nowhere on the Grid that he could take her that CLU did not know…except the Outlands. And it was the one place that even Rinzler might not be able to find her in. If she reached it in time, and found a rebel group or an energy source; she could evade CLU. Feral would be safe—from CLU, at least.

If she had reached the Outlands.

The search for Feral was made a little easier by the fact that she was on foot. It limited how far she could have gone since escaping CLU's quarters. Rinzler had the guards asking about a program fitting her description in all of the areas that he had taken her to while on patrol. No one had seen her.

Finally, a young and obviously intimidated program blurted out that he had seen something. "I do not know who it was," the program said, looking panicked as he faced a growling Rinzler. "I could not see their face. They were wearing a hooded robe. But it had red-orange circuits on it," he added hastily. "And I have never heard of a program with circuits that color other than you."

Rinzler's growl grew louder and more intimidating as he motioned for the program to continue. "They were headed towards the entertainment district," the program told him, "that is all I know, really."

The entertainment district. There was only one reason a program trying to reach the Outlands would go to the entertainment district. Feral was trying to contact Zuse. Zuse always had a finger or two in everything that happened on the Grid. At least two fingers, if it was illegal. Gesturing to the guards to release the program, Rinzler started to walk in the direction of the waiting Recognizer. He coded the Recognizer for the entertainment district. They would know where she was at the End of Line.

If she had managed to make it that far….

The End of Line was already busy when Rinzler and some of the BlackGuard arrived. As the guards fanned out through the club; Rinzler scanned the lower level of the club. Let the guards search the crowd for Feral. He was looking for Zuse.

When he did not locate Zuse on the lower level; Rinzler went to the dais that was coded for the stairs to Zuse's private lounge. Stopping only long enough to access and security over-ride the stairs to rezz them into being, he climbed the stairs leading to the lounge.

Rinzler had expected to find Zuse in the private lounge that the program kept overlooking the club's main floor. What he had not expected was for the program to be sitting on a couch, relaxed, with the reason for his search. Feral was lying on the couch, her head cushioned in Zuse's lap.

"Rinzler," the entertainment program exclaimed, smiling. "This is unexpected." Zuse carefully rose from his seat, settling Feral's head so it rested on the couch. She did not say anything, but her eyes watched every move that Rinzler made.

Making his way to the bar, Zuse spoke to Rinzler. "So, what brings the elite Rinzler to my humble club?" He turned toward the enforcer. "Can I get you a drink?"

An intimidating growl came from Rinzler as he looked at the program. Raising a hand, he pointed at Feral as she lay on the couch.

"You came to retrieve CLU's little pet? Well, as you can see, she is perfectly fine. Why don't you leave her here for a little while longer to finish resting? CLU seems to have been a little…rough with his toy. I can have someone bring her back to CLU afterwards. I will even send her with one of your guards, it you like."

Rinzler could not explain why, but he knew that Feral should not stay here. He looked back to where she lay, apparently watching them. Why did she not say something? Shaking his head, his growl grew louder as he pointed to her again.

Smiling, Zuse said, "Why do we not see what she wants to do? If she wants to go now, all she has to do is say so; or, simply get up and leave with you now. If not, then leave a guard or two to escort her back after she is rested. Poor darling does look tired, after all," he continued, his voice sympathetic.

Feral watched the two programs as Zuse spoke to Rinzler. She was near panic at the thought of being trapped—unable to speak or move. If Rinzler left her alone with Castor…. Castor was still trying to talk Rinzler into leaving without her; saying that he would have her escorted back to CLU after she had 'rested'.

Desperately, she concentrated all of her willpower and strength on moving the fingers of her hand. Fighting the effects of the drink as much as she could, she managed to twitch her fingers. The slight movement encouraged her; and she put all of her being into signing four letters over and over.

H.

E.

L.

P.

Rinzler was feeling more agitated as he stood there listening to Zuse. What the program was saying made sense; however, the nagging feeling that something was wrong was getting more pronounced. Why did Feral not say anything? Was she merely trying to stay out of CLU's reach for as long as possible? He turned his head back to look at her again. She was still lying on the couch in the same position as before; but one thing was different. It was her hands. Specifically, one of her hands. Slowly, laboriously, she was spelling something. He noticed the tear that was slowly making its way down her face as he read her message.

Help.

A sound like an electronic snarl ripped through the room as Rinzler's helmet whipped around to lock onto Zuse; his unseen gaze somehow almost tangible as he focused on the entertainment program. The smile on the other program's face faltered, then fell, at the sound of Rinzler's snarl.

Ignoring the stammered excuses that came from the white-haired program; Rinzler strode over to where Feral lay on the couch, still trying to finger-spell out her plea for help. He scooped up the helpless User, cradling her in his arms. Turning back, he carried her as he walked to the stairs, growling as he passed an unsmiling Zuse. Without stopping, he continued to carry her down the stairs and out of the club, signaling to the other guards with a jerk of his head to leave as he did so. He did not stop until he had Feral onboard the waiting Recognizer.

Once inside the Recognizer, Rinzler gently set her down so she could sit upright, leaning into a corner for support. With his thumb he wiped away the tears that had traced their way over her face; signing as he did so. 'Are you hurt?' he asked her. A moment passed as she made the sign for 'no'. Relieved, he nodded his understanding. Rinzler stood and turned away, standing guard between her and the rest of the BlackGuard. He remained there—unmoving—as the Recognizer rose into the air and began the return trip back to CLU.

Picking her up when the Recognizer stopped, Rinzler carried Feral in his arms as he made his way into the building that contained CLU's quarters. They were met inside by CLU. Looking at her as she was carried in by Rinzler, CLU sighed.

"Feral," he said, "how many times are we going to have to go through this?" Dismissing the rest of the guards, CLU motioned to Rinzler. "Bring her up to my quarters," he told the security program.

Rinzler followed the system administrator up to CLU's quarters. Once inside the room, CLU turned his attention to the User carried in Rinzler's arms.

"I think that you need another little lesson of the type you were given last," he told her, reaching out towards her face as he did so.

"No," Feral said, surprising both programs as she slid from Rinzler's arms to stagger away from them. "No; I will not let you do that to me again." Her voice rose, becoming slightly hysterical as she continued speaking.

"If you do that to me, ever again; I won't try to fade. I WILL KILL MYSELF. There is now way that you can prevent every option I have for doing that. I swear that I will!" She stopped and took a few deep breaths; and continued again in a slightly calmer voice. "I will do the patrols, I will do whatever else you want; but you can't make me want to erase a program's coding, so I will not do that. And I will not let you touch me like that again."

CLU looked at her as she stood there, her body shaking slightly as she forced herself to stand while the effects of the drink she had been given earlier were still wearing off.

"You would not do that," he said, thoughtfully. "Destroying yourself would not be logical."

Giving a small, high-pitched laugh that sounded as if it could turn into a sob at any moment, Feral replied, "What have I done yet that is logical?" She wrapped her arms around her chest as if hugging herself—or holding herself to keep from flying apart.

CLU continued to look at her, not saying anything, for several long moments. Finally, he turned to where Rinzler stood, waiting.

"I am putting you in complete charge of her," he told Rinzler. "She stays with you at all times. You go nowhere without her; unless I order it otherwise." Giving Feral a long, considering look; CLU added, "Train her for the Games. She will be taking part in them later."

Waving a hand in dismissal he said, "You can go now, Rinzler. Take her with you."

Rinzler led a still shaking Feral as she stumbled down the hall towards his quarters. The second time that she came close to falling; he merely picked her up in his arms and continued to walk down the long corridor.
He could feel tears on her face as she pressed herself tightly against his chest, curling up tighter into his arms. She continued to cry—silent and unmoving—as he carried her into his quarters.

Carrying her over to the bed; he set her down upon it. Lifting her head, he began to wipe away her tears with his fingers. 'You are safe here,'he signed to her. 'You do not need to cry.'

Feral looked up at him, solemnly, her eyes still wet and shining from her tears. In a voice that was nearly a sob, she said, "Thank you."

'For what?' he signed, puzzled. 'I did nothing. You stopped CLU from hurting you on your own.'

She shook her head. "You didn't leave me with Castor," she told him. "I couldn't get away, or move; and you did not leave me there with him."

'At first, I wondered if I should,' he admitted. 'I thought that you would want to delay returning as long as possible. But something did not feel right."

When I realized what had happened…my orders form CLU are the only thing that kept me from derezzing him. Such things are not allowed on the Grid…on ANY system. At least, they were never tolerated before. Now, I have to wonder.'

Rinzler took a deep breath and pointed his helmet straight at her face. 'CLU wants you to be trained for the games. I will teach you everything that I can. You will be able to protect yourself against the dangers that exist on the Grid. Maybe, by doing this, I can help protect you from CLU; even if I have to follow his orders.'

Do you want me to teach you these things?' he asked her.

Feral looked up at him with the determination that had caught his attention the first time he saw her.

"Every bit of it," she said. "Every last thing that you can teach me."

Rinzler looked at her and gave a firm nod of his head. 'It will not be easy, training,' he warned her. 'But I will teach you. Try to get some rest.' "Do not worry," he added, his voice a somehow gentle growl. "I will keep you safe while you sleep."

Feral nodded, trusting him. She lay down on the bed and tried to relax. Before long, she had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Notes: No particular song list for this chapter; however, if you like...play almost anything from Daft Punk. I recommend 'Steam Machine' or "Technologic' myself...