Chapter 17

"Is this it?" Sam asked later as they came to a stop.

Beck sat up on his bike and examined the shore, so quiet and still. After a moment, he nodded, "Yeah. I'll take care of it."

He put away his bike and, off instinct and habit, pulled out two other batons, which both grew into lightswords. He gripped them and started towards the water. After a moment, Paige sighed, shook her head, and followed. Nico tried to grab her but she was too slow. Paige started down the hill as the others stopped Nico from falling. But they all exchanged a look and followed shortly after.

Beck stopped when his ankles were in the water. He searched the water, as it was eerie and silent.

However, as soon as Paige set foot in the water, it sprung to life.

A figure literally sprung up, and tried to stay afloat, grabbing at Beck. Beck, who was thrown off guard at the suddenness, backed away, holding one of his swords out in front of Paige but almost running into her, "Get back!"
The water seemed heavy on him and he reached out again. Beck pushed Paige back onto the shore but fell down as he tripped. His swords fell out of hand and before he could grab them again, the program grabbed his ankle suddenly. Before Beck could react, the program fell under again, but this time he tried to use Beck to pull him up. However, he ended up pulling Beck under with him.

Quorra gasped and started down but Paige stopped her. She opened her to mouth to say something when Alan cut over her.

"NOBODY MOVE!"
Nico's head jerked to him to see his eyes were closed as if he was concentrating.

"What?" Nico exclaimed, "Why? Our friend is under the water and at chance of_"

"I can sense two programs."

If Nico was ever more confused than she was then, she must not have recollection of it.

"What do you mean?! Just_"

"Be quiet and concentrate."

Nico obeyed at the sternness in his voice, similar to Beck's angry tone. She turned and watched the water, biting her lip. She couldn't feel it, and she didn't know why.

By now the water was still again. Everyone was watching quietly. Waiting. Hoping….

Suddenly there was a splash and Beck's head appeared with a loud gasp. He coughed and made his way to the shore shakily and everyone could see why. The program that had been drowning was draped over his shoulder, unconscious. Sam, Roy, Paige and Nico ran into the water and they all helped the two to the shore. As soon as they were on dry land, they took the program off Beck and set him on the ground. Beck got to his knees, coughing up water. His hair hung in his face and eyes and water gathered and ran down his face in drops. Paige knelt next to the program.

"Is he_" Beck coughed, before continuing in a hoarse voice, "Is he alright?"

Paige gave him a stern look, "He just tried to kill you."

"I know…but is he alright?"

"He's breathing." Alan said, "Has water in his system."

Beck looked at him, but didn't say anything. He pushed his hair out of his face and scooted forward at the program's head. Nico looked over the program fully.

He wore a dark mask. His suit was dark with minimal circuits (similar to what Beck was wearing) that was flickering between light and darkness.

"I…" Beck started to say something, but stopped.

"He's starting to come to." Alan said, growing closer slowly.

In curiosity, Paige glanced to Beck in a question. When Beck didn't say anything, Paige reached out towards the program's mask.

She gasped slightly, though, when the program's hand snapped up and grabbed her wrist in a death grip. She began to try to pull away as the program began to sit up, a low, familiar rumble coming from his throat.

"Oh my god." Sam said, stunned but starting forward.

Beck put a hand on the program's shoulder and began to pull his arm back. Rinzler let go and in a blur tackled Beck to the ground, two discs in his hands at Beck's neck. This was something recognizable, but while one was an Occupation orange…

the other was blue.

Beck looked to his chest to see the T emblem where he expected it to be. He looked up to the program as he gritted his teeth, "Fight it! I know you're in there."

Beck mouthed something and the rumble hitched as his hands twitched once. This made Beck grin.

"I knew it! C'mon do it!"
The rumble shuddered and the discs slammed into the ground on either side of Beck's head as Rinzler quickly got away, holding his head. He bent over and Beck got up to kneel next to him. His circuits flickered between orange and blue and he gave a loud, broken scream.

The sight and sound obviously pained Beck, but he took his shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Y-you're going to be ok-k-kay. Trust me!"

The program shuddered in Beck's grip and Beck looked on the verge of tears.

"COME ON!" He hadn't meant to scream, but the scene was getting to him.

Suddenly, Alan broke away from the crowd that had backed away. Roy reached out to stop but Sam held his arm out.

"Let him go. He knows what he's doing."

"How do you know?" Roy demanded, but to which Sam didn't answer.

Beck and the program looked up as Alan stopped in front of them. At the sight of the User, the torturing program broke away from Beck and began to back away, letting out a broken whine.

This only made Alan's eyebrows furrow and he continued towards the program, who was cornered at the water's edge. He trembled and was breathing loud and hard as Alan knelt in front of him. Through the glass mask, Alan met the gaze of a similar gaze, flickering between his nature and rectification's orders. Alan took two fingers and placed them on his chest, eyes full of peace and sudden knowledge.

"Sleep…Tron."

Slowly, the trembling stopped and the broken growl faded away into silence. Beck moved over and gently helped lay Tron down as he sank into unconsciousness.

Everyone was silent for a long moment. Then, Alan turned Beck.

"Is he how you know of me?"

Beck nodded, "He's your program. I know him well."

He looked back to his mentor to see even in his rest, he was in pain.

Alan began to pace, thinking. Finally, he turned to Beck, "We need to get him to the city."

He began to go but stopped when he saw no one had moved, "Come on!"

"I can't."

Alan looked back to Beck to see him looking down.

"What…what do you mean? We can't leave him here to die!"

"I know."

"Why can't we take him to the city? Do you not care if he dies?"

"Alan_" Quorra started.

"Of course I care!" Beck snapped in a tone that Tron used to use and Alan was taken aback for a moment by the familiarity to his own, "Don't you think I want to?"

He looked up again after a moment, his features weary with emotional pain, "I can't. If I bring anyone who could have a potential danger to the city, I'd be putting too many lives at risk. I can't do that! I can't…."

Nico had her back to all of them, watching the skyline where a large mountain was; not involved in the conversation whatsoever.

"…Nico?" Paige asked, her voice worried, "Are you alright_"

"There's some sort of civilization just beyond the mountain. We can go there for help."

Beck looked between all of them and nodded after a moment.

"What are we waiting for then?" Alan exclaimed, "Let's go!"

Beck pulled Tron up, then over the shoulder gently.

"Lead the way Nico."