Sorry this took so long guys, mild case of writer's block...and with Finals coming up, it's not been easy. So, here's chapter 6...in which Quorra goes to clear her head after hearing about her father's death, and having two Programs try to cheer her up a bit (particularly a young Monitor who wants to irritate his older brother).

Chapter 6

Comfort and Coping

Quorra raced through the city, ignoring the tears that streamed from her ice-blue eyes. No one stared at her as she ran past…her light, ebony armor blended in with the Basics instead of standing out like she did with her white Arjian armor.

She burst through a door and stopped on the edge of a rooftop, going to the edge and sitting down, her knees drawn to her chest, circuits dimly flickering.

"Quorra?"

Quorra sniffed as her head snapped behind her…just to see a familiar Program in jet black, minimally lit armor.

The pale, blue-white tetramino on his chest told her who it was.

Tron came closer to her, kneeling down next to her, derezzing the reflective helmet and revealing the Monitor's old, steel-blue eyes.

"I heard about Jalen," he said softly, putting a hand on Quorra's shoulder, "I'm so sorry,"

The Child ISO hung her head before nearly throwing herself into Tron's embrace. The Protector held her close, a low, gentle hum rumbling from his chest as Quorra sobbed.

"Wh-Why'd he h-have to d-die?" Quorra cried, "the G-Games…they're n-not supposed to b-be l-lethal!"

"I don't know, Quorra," Tron told her gently, "I do know that he died saving a Basic from his fate,"

"Y-You s-saw?"

"I was there," Tron said sadly, "I was going to go up against him. The arena started to break…your father saw the glass starting to derezz under his opponent. He jumped over the weak parts, threw the Basic to safety…and the floor fell from under him. He sacrificed himself for that Basic, Quorra…I don't think he would have let her die,"

He brushed her hair away from her face, a gentle half-smile on his face.

"I think she reminded him of you," he said, "She had that spunky attitude in her fighting like you do,"

Quorra cracked a weak smile at that.

"Although…seeing you in Basic Black is new…" he told her.

"Moth…Radia's idea," Quorra muttered, remembering what her mother told her.

Tron lifted his head in understanding.

"To keep you safe if something should happen to her," he reasoned, "Even having you call her Radia in the presence of others?"

Quorra gave a nod.

"Radia is a wise ISO, always has been, always will be," Tron stated, "Now…I know you like heights…but why don't we get you someplace warm and get you some energy, alright?"

Quorra gave a mute nod and stood with Tron's help. The Protector wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked down the stairs.

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CRASH!

"Nice shot," Tron nodded as Quorra's Disk ricocheted back to her.

"I had good teachers," Quorra admitted, bowing her head, "You and my father were the best,"

Tron squeezed her shoulder.

"He'd be very proud of you Quorra," Tron told her softly, "I know I am,"

Quorra gave a slight smile.

"Quorra!" came a familiar voice.

The Child-ISO's gaze lit up brightly as she turned to face the cobalt-circuited Monitor trotting towards her and Tron.

"Anon!" Quorra beamed as Anon came towards her, "How are you?"

"Probably better than you," the young Monitor admitted, "Sorry about Jalen…Tron said you and he were close,"

"Everyone is," Quorra sighed before shooting the older Monitor a ping [You didn't tell him?]

[Radia's orders] Tron pinged back [And Jalen's. The only ones who know you're their daughter are me, Flynn, the ISOs, and Clu. No one else unless you told someone…]

[No]

"I uh…I think I might have something that might take your mind off it," Anon started slowly.

"And what would that be, Monitor?" Quorra asked.

"Making a certain brother of mine's runtime miserable," Anon smirked, "C'mon!"

He grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the door to his, Flynn's and Clu's apartment.

Quorra grabbed Tron's wrist as she and Anon went past and dragged the elder Monitor with them.

This was going to be fun…or very, very dangerous….

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"I don't think this is a good idea," Tron muttered.

"C'mon, Tron, you worry too much," Anon snorted as he and Quorra stood back and admired their handiwork.

"And done!" Quorra beamed, "Whaddya think?"

"I think that it was nice knowing you both," Tron deadpanned.

Anon flashed Tron that crooked grin that matched Flynn's perfectly…this was the reflection of the Flynn the older Monitor knew back on the Encom system.

"He's dealt with our pranks before," Anon dismissed, "This one won't hurt him, right Q?"

"Right," Quorra nodded and then Anon tensed, "What's wrong?"

"He's coming…hide!" Anon chuckled, ducking behind a corner and his mentor and ISO friend quickly followed him.

Tron only hid because he had no intention to be out there when the prank Anon and Quorra set off went into effect. He barely made it before the target came around the corner, intently studying a datapad. Anon and Quorra were nearly dancing with excitement as they watched their victim enter the room.

The main difference in looks between Anon and Clu were most obviously the hairstyle. Anon's was wilder, more curly while Clu's was perfectly styled and in place. Flynn's was a mixture of the two. Another difference is the eyes. Anon's had a childish spark that quickly turned grim when he was on a mission, Clu's were clear and calculating, Flynn's were…experienced.

One quickly learned that the words 'wise' and 'Kevin Flynn' do not go in the same sentence unless saying how he isn't wise. Flynn is smart. There is a difference between smart and wise and Flynn walks on the line…more often going on the 'not so wise' part of the line.

Clu walked into the room and Anon gave an evil laugh while Quorra gave an equally evil smirk. Tron knew from experience that this was not going to end well for Clu. Anyone on the receiving end of that laugh didn't come out without being pranked in some way, shape or form.

The Admin looked up from his datapad, glanced at his room and then turned back to his pad…not noticing that Anon and Quorra had strategically moved everything in that room a half an inch from where it was before…and fixed the code so that he couldn't move it back.

Clu was a perfectionist…if Tron remembered right, Flynn said he was majorly 'oh-cee-dee', whatever that meant. What Tron did know…is that Clu did not like it when someone messed with anything he had put together…which his brother Program and the Child-ISO did.

Constantly.

"Your plan failed," Tron pointed out when Clu didn't react.

Anon held up a hand to shush his mentor before ticking down fingers.

Three…Two…One…

Clu suddenly froze and slowly looked up at his room again…twitching badly.

Quorra bit her lip to keep from laughing and Anon slowly stood up.

"And now is the time for me to le…" he froze as he turned around, "Oh…uh…hi User,"

Tron and Quorra turned around and saw Flynn standing behind them, looking at Anon and then over his shoulder at Clu.

"What did you do to him this time?" Flynn asked, slightly tired and slightly amused at the same time.

Anon never got the chance to answer because Clu came barreling out of his room.

"YOU!" Clu snapped.

"Why do you always assume it's me, brother?" Anon asked, his bright blue eyes wide and innocent.

He pointed at Tron and Quorra.

"Sell-out," Quorra muttered so softly only the Monitors could hear her.

"I am not playing that game Anon," Tron growled, "I had nothing to do with your little antics,"

"What did he do?" Flynn repeated.

"HE MOVED EVERYTHING IN MY ROOM AND NOW I CAN'T MOVE IT BACK!" Clu roared.

"It's quite the improvement if you ask me," Anon muttered with an impish grin.

"That's it! You're cubes!"

Anon shot him a very cocky grin.

"Got to catch me first!" he smirked before sprinting off.

Clu followed him, yelling in anger as the younger Program sprinted across the walls before landing agilely on his feet on the floor. Tron turned to Flynn.

"This is all your fault," he told him.

"Oh c'mon," Flynn grinned as Clu tripped Anon and landed heavily on the younger's chest, "He's just a baby,"

"OW!" Anon yelled, "Clu that hurt!"

"That hurt?" Clu hissed, "I'll show you hurt, bit-brain!"

"AGH! FLYNN! OW! USER! GAH! DAD! HELP!" Anon wailed as Clu hit him, "Clu STOP! OW! OW! OW!"

"Alright you two, break it up," Flynn ordered, coming between the two.

"He started it!" they both yelled.

"Yeah, well I'm finishing it!" Flynn growled.

Both Programs glared heatedly at each other…both sporting cuts from where the other scratched him with their fingernails.

Tron facepalmed, shaking his head.

"Why me?" he muttered.

"That's why," Quorra told him, "Just because it's you!"

"I'm surprised he didn't go straight after you," Tron said, throwing a sidelong glance at the young ISO.

"Who, me?" Quorra asked, blinking sweetly, "I'm just the Innocent little ISO…I wouldn't hurt a fly!"

Tron cocked his head slightly, trying to figure out what in the Grid she had said…

"User phrase," she prompted, "Mothe…Radia's been teaching me,"

Tron gave a short laugh and shook his head.

He was starting to worry about the day when Anon and Quorra's antics would become normal.

Obviously this is after Abraxas was created, I kinda hold the belief that the Virus was held back for a while, getting him up to strength, getting him ready to face against the two Monitors...so Clu would keep him hidden for a while. And...huh...I think I might have just gotten an idea for next chapter. I think next chapter we'll start into Evolution. Until next time!

Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please R&R! :)

Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)

Máriessë ar mára tecië

Farewell and fair writing

Elhini Prime signing off.