And now we're truly in Evolution...and into the saddest part of the Tron fandom. I hope you like this one!

Chapter 8

Silenced

Quorra watched from the sidelines as Anon straightened up, looking at where the Virus had gone.

She saw Clu come back to the stage, picking up one of the broken shards and looking up at Anon.

"Good timing, Anon. Seems like I owe you one," Clu said as Anon derezzed his helmet.

"Or more," Anon teased.

Clu ignored him, studying the shard.

"A viral attack shouldn't be possible…perhaps this will give us an answer or two," Clu murmured, showing the shard to Anon, who recoiled and flinched visibly.

"Get that thing away," the Monitor growled, "You can study it, yes…just don't let it near me,"

"CLU! ANON!" came Flynn's panicked voice as he and Tron both sprinted to the stage, "Thank God you two are ok…what happened?!"

"A virus," Clu said simply, "It infected many, both ISO and Basic,"

"Impossible," Tron growled.

"You know this system is closed," Flynn added, "Nothing gets in without me!"

"And it didn't," Anon replied, turning his gaze to where the virus had been, "It was already here,"

"What?" Tron asked.

"It evolved from the inside," Clu expanded, "It seems this…Abraxas…virus was once an ISO,"

Flynn's visage turned stormy while Anon's cool blue gaze locked onto his brother in slight annoyance.

"No, no, no, no way man," Anon growled, "An ISO wouldn't do this,"

"How can we know for sure?" Clu asked his brother, "You're new to the system so you wouldn't know. By definition they're unpredictable, they have no directive, no ordained function. They're a flaw,"

Anon visibly bristled at that comment and both Flynn and Tron put steadying hands on the younger Monitor.

"I blame myself," Clu continued, "I should have seen this coming…and now their unpredictability has progressed into a form that could jeopardize the entire system,"

"The ISOs aren't flaws Clu," Flynn reminded him, "They're as much a part of the Grid as you are,"

"Flaws, my apology, I misspoke," Clu apologized, "I meant deviations,"

Anon muttered something and Quorra saw Tron nudge him none-too-gently.

"Programs with free will aren't deviations, Clu, they're a miracle!" Flynn said slowly so that Clu would get it this time, "It's my fault you don't get it. I programmed you…your limits are my doing,"

Clu's face darkened slightly and unless Quorra was imagining things, she saw a flicker of gold in Clu's circuits.

"That wasn't a knock on you buddy," Flynn said gently, "It was a knock on me. But let's focus on what's important…eradicating this virus has to be top priority,"

01010011 01101001 01101100 01100101 01101110 01100011 01100101 01100100

They started to move, out, walking out of the amphitheater and Quorra followed, quickly moving through the shadows and up into a building overlooking the Arcade.

"Anon!" Tron yelled, and the Flynn Monitor sprinted up to his mentor, helmet rezzed.

"Yes, Tron?"

"Those Infected Programs…make sure they don't get too far, derezz them if you have to, quarantine them if you can,"

He gave a nod.

"After I get Flynn out…I'll come back to help you," Tron told him, "Remember, Abraxas is mine,"

"I'll do what I can," Anon answered, running off.

Tron turned to Flynn.

"I don't know what a virus will do to a User, but I doubt it will be pleasant," he warned him as they walked, "You need to get out of here. Your transport to the portal is waiting for you. I don't like it when you cut it this close,"

"Will you stop worrying, Tron?" Flynn snorted, "Everything's just fine,"

"Except the fact that we have a virus in the system now,"

"Tron…" Flynn groaned, exasperated, "Everything's under control!"

"FLYNN!" Clu called.

Both of User and Basic froze, looking at him in…gold-yellow circuit color.

Quorra watched in growing fear as Clu called out again.

"Am I still to create the perfect system?" he asked.

"…Yeah?" Flynn answered, puzzled.

A slow smirk spread across Clu's face as a helmet formed over his head and four Guards stalked out, Disks lit.

Quorra's eyes widened and she covered her hand with her mouth. A coup! Clu was going to overthrow Flynn…

"Go," Tron growled, taking out his own Disk as Flynn fled.

The first one came at the Protector, he smacked his Disk away before ramming his own under his chin, derezzing him. The second came at Tron, the Monitor grabbed his Disk, elbowing him in the face before slashing at him, derezzing him with his own Disk as it still hummed in Tron's hand. The Hero looked down at his hands…almost surprised as the two Disks still whirred and hummed in his barely lit hands.

Tron shook his head and settled into a fighting stance, daring the others to come at him.

He ducked underneath their Disks and derezzed one before disarming the other and derezzing him too. Tron looked back and saw Flynn scooting backwards as Clu advanced.

The Protector ran forwards and tackled Clu.

"FLYNN! GO!" Tron yelled, punching Clu in the face.

Clu got up and grabbed Tron's arm, flipping him over on his back, Tron hit the ground hard, looking up just in time to see Clu raising his Disk.

Quorra gave a scream, closing her eyes as Tron gave a shriek of pain…and then it went silent.

The young ISO jammed her fist into her mouth as she fled. Clu killed Flynn and Tron…

He killed Flynn and TRON!

She came to a stop, trying to catch her breath…when a flash of cobalt caught her eye.

Quorra looked up just in time to see Anon stumbling to a stop, helmet curving elegantly up over his head. The young Monitor hit the ground, a strangled cry emitting from him.

She wasn't alone…

Anon saw it too.

Quorra cleared her throat and pulled out a magnetic Disk upgrade…it was how she had always gotten around nowadays. She turned towards Anon.

"Hey! Over here!" she called, making Anon's head snap up, "Quick! Before they see you!"

Anon limped over to her…Quorra realized he was hurt as sapphire voxels splintered away from his leg. She tossed down the upgrade, smiling slightly as Anon juggled it for a second before looking at her.

"Upload it to your Disk, makes getting around a lot easier,"

She watched as Anon did so and held his Disk out, watched as the grappling feature on his Disk activated and he shot into the air, landing none-too-gracefully beside her. She knelt down and looked at the wound on his leg. Already his repair system had kicked in…he wouldn't have a scar when it was done.

But something was wrong…

She looked out over the square, at the ruby and sapphire voxels that littered it.

"That was Clu…" she stammered, "He…he killed Flynn and Tron…"

Anon gave a sad nod, bowing his head. She could hear the soft plink of tears as they hit the glass of his helmet.

"We need to tell somebody…everybody," Quorra said firmly, "They need to know what Clu's done!"

Anon gave a short shake of his head and pointed at her.

"Me?" Quorra blinked, "You have to help me tell them! You can't stay quiet forever Anon, I know you're grieving but you have…"

Anon derezzed his helmet and ran his fingers over the armor at his throat, derezzing it and revealing a jagged, sapphire code scar that crossed over his vocal chords…still dripping azure code.

He tried to speak, but a thin rasp was all he could muster before he gripped his throat once more from the pain and reactivated his helmet.

Quorra's pale face went even paler.

"You…can't…can you?" she breathed.

He gave a sad shake of his head and Quorra wrapped her arms around him.

Anon, the happy-go-lucky Monitor that was always up for a good prank, who never shut up when you got him started on a subject…was now a mute.

"I'm so sorry," she breathed, "I…"

Anon held up a hand and put it on her shoulder, she could almost see the sad half-smile on his face as he shook his head and gestured with his free hand, telling her to continue with her plan.

"There's a Program who can help us. Zuse. He believes in peace between ISOs and Basics. He runs an ISO friendly club in the city ce…" Quorra started…and she heard a coughing rasp as Anon's shoulders shook.

"What?" she asked, "Are you ok? What hurts…"

Anon shook his head and that's when Quorra got it…that horrible, strangled sound was him laughing!

He took off his Disk and pulled up a memory file…Quorra watched as the ghostly figures of Tron, Yori, Anon and Zuse filled the screen. Zuse stole a kiss from Yori…and then Tron decked the Entertainment Program, his Disk sliding out as he pinned him.

"You know him then…" Quorra grinned, "Or…well…you've seen what Tron did to him,"

Anon's raspy, strangled laugh continued for a few more nanos as he replaced his Disk and nodded.

"And you know if anyone knows how to get the news out, it's him," Quorra continued.

Anon gave an unamused tilt of his head…Quorra got the feeling he didn't like the idea.

She heard the rumble of Recognizers coming towards them and an idea formed. She turned back to Anon.

"We should split up," she told him, "With luck, at least one of us will make it,"

She started towards the railing and leaped off it, landing on the leg of the passing Recognizer as Anon gave a raspy squawk of protest.

"I'll see you there!" she waved as the young Monitor passed out of sight.

01010011 01101001 01101100 01100101 01101110 01100011 01100101 01100100

Quorra made it to the End of Line club quite easily. She stood inside the doorway, watching as three heavily armed sentries made their way towards the entrance.

She didn't say anything, only hoping that they didn't ask too many questions, but they ignored her, thankfully.

What wasn't so good…was that as soon as the doors started sliding shut, Anon leaped from a balcony and landed on the terrace with the easy grace that he and Tron shared. Her core froze as Anon looked up as the Guards hefted their shields and Disks. The doors shut right as Anon took out his Disk and seemed to flip a switch inside it.

A few nanos later, after an explosion and a slight shaking of the ground, the doors slid open and Anon came in, brushing off a few stray scarlet voxels as he replaced his Disk.

"C'mon, follow me," Quorra told him as they stepped onto the elevator.

The ride was quiet, Anon's thin, ragged breaths being the only thing punctuating the silence. It didn't seem to bother him…or at least he didn't show it, but it slightly unnerved Quorra…

What if it hindered him as he fought? What if his injury reopened and he bled out? She'd lost Flynn, Tron, and her father…

She didn't want to lose Anon.

The mute Monitor turned his head towards her, as if he was asking what was bothering her, but Quorra was saved from answering by the elevator doors opening.

She looked up and saw Zuse's familiar white clad form across the sea of Arjians, Bostrumites, and Basics.

"There's Zuse," she told her silent companion, "C'mon!"

The two waded through the sea of Programs. Anon actually looked a little nervous…like he didn't want to be here…

And then Quorra remembered something Flynn had told her about his Monitor.

Anon was claustrophobic, just like Tron was…but Anon got more agitated if he was in a crowd while Tron's came from being in tight spaces, whether a small room or a crowd it didn't matter.

If you wanted to freak both Monitors out…stick them in a small room or in a large crowd and it would do the trick.

Quorra brushed Anon's hand with her own, making the Monitor stiffen slightly before relaxing…and unless she was imagining things…she could have sworn she saw a faint flicker of violet in his cobalt circuits.

[Don't…like…] Anon pinged.

"At least you haven't lost that," Quorra said with a faint smile, "Why don't you ping instead of talk?"

[Hurts] Anon admitted [Speech processes…damaged. Not just…vocal]

"That glitch…" Quorra growled darkly only for Anon to put a bigger hand on her shoulder as he shook his head.

"You're right," Quorra admitted, "But that doesn't undo what he did to you,"

She turned to the bar right as Zuse turned to see her. The Basic's eyes lit up brilliantly as he spotted her.

"Quorra!" he cried, as he embraced her and gave her an air kiss on either cheek, "My dear sweet Quorra, it's been far too long!"

Quorra turned an icy blue gaze on him.

"We need your help, Zuse, something's happened," Quorra told him.

"If what has happened is half as dire as your tone, I'll need a drink," Zuse deadpanned before turning to face the crowd, "Libations for…"

He froze as his gaze landed on Anon.

"Oh…Greetings, Monitor," Zuse murmured, bowing his head in acknowledgement of Anon's status as secondary Protector.

"He's ok, Zuse, he's with me," Quorra reassured him, looking at Anon…who looked like he wanted to sneak out of the room as fast as possible.

"Are you certain?" Zuse challenged, "For here ISOs and Basics mingle with abandon. It's the only ISO safe haven in all the city,"

Anon shuffled uneasily, looking around uncomfortably and trying not to make eye contact with Zuse…or at least, that's what Quorra assumed.

"As you well know…" Zuse continued, leaning in to challenge Anon further, "Not all approve or such policies. I've heard of the saboteurs that have reared their destructive heads of late and frankly I like my business…"

Anon's thin breaths came quicker and Quorra thought the poor Monitor was going to overheat and crash if Zuse tormented him even more…

"So pardon my caution," Zuse finished, backing off a bit and letting the mute Monitor relax.

"He's on our side and we need him," Quorra insisted before leaning in and telling Zuse everything she knew, "Clu's taken over the Grid…he must have been planning it for some time. He had soldiers, tanks…who knows what else!"

"Surely not!" Zuse gasped, "How did this happen? Flynn would never allow Clu such rein!"

Quorra fought back the tears that wanted to come…she wished she had her own helmet covering her face like her friend's…as she saw Anon bow his head sadly.

"Flynn's dead," she murmured sadly, "Tron too…Clu killed them!"

"And…and you know this how?" Zuse stammered, his already pale face even paler.

"We saw him do it," Quorra stated and Anon gave a sharp nod.

"I see matters are dire indeed," Zuse muttered, "And just as I was looking to move downtown…But! As luck would have it, I can help,"

Anon cocked his head and Quorra voiced his question.

"You have a plan?" she asked.

"Zuse always has a plan!" the Entertainment Program chuckled.

Quorra shot Anon a triumphant smile, she told him Zuse would help!

"But I urge caution," he told them both, "If Clu can harm the User, his reach knows no bounds. You will need an advantage…"

He reached for Quorra's Disk, making Anon stiffen slightly and poise to take out his own.

"Your Disk my dear?" Zuse asked.

Quorra shot Anon a calming look and handed the ebony and sapphire ring to Zuse. The Entertainment Program took Quorra's Disk and waved his hand over it, a soft whirring sound came from the Disk and gridwork shimmered over its surface, glowing pure white for a moment before fading.

"You now have full access to the Solar Sailer controls. I'd suggest borrowing one headed to Arjia city immediately," Zuse advised, throwing Quorra a pointed look as she put her Disk up, "Find Radia before Clu does. She can spread the news to the ISO factions faster than anyone…and they will listen to her,"

"Thank you," Quorra said with a faint smile.

"Of course darling," Zuse beamed, giving two more air kisses and making Anon give a grating growl of dissent, "Vive la…"

Suddenly the building shook and Programs began screaming, rushing around and hurrying for the exit as something large and lit with bloody crimson and orange came into view.

"Resistance…" Zuse trailed off, eyes wide as he stared at the massive ship, "It seems moving day has come a bit sooner than expected!"

And he bolted as blue light lit up the area. Quorra whipped out one of the batons strapped to her side, courtesy of Tron's incessant drilling that she have at least two on her person at all times, and shoved it into Anon's lax hand.

"Take this!" she ordered, shoving him towards the window, "NOW GO!"

Anon didn't protest, but he did give a squawk of questioning as Quorra shoved him through the window…

And the two broke their batons, racing down the side of the building on their lightcycles as the club exploded behind them.

Next up is the two escaping Tron City and getting to Arjia...and Quorra gets to see her mother again.

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.