Longest one yet I think! This one, I swear is probably the most feelsiest one I've done for this fic yet! And when we get to the end of Evolution...that's really gonna be a tearjerker. Here, we have a few familiar faces. But I'm not going to spoil it so here you go!
Chapter 10
Loss
Quorra wandered through the system, searching for other ISOs. She met with many, but almost as soon as she reached that enclave, Clu's forces were there and blasted the ISO towers to pieces…along with his Guards rushing in and killing ISOs in the streets.
Her travels took her to Thallium, which resulted in her finally getting through to the ISO leader in the city.
"You say Clu's forces are coming for us," the leader, a tall, stately female named Risa, started, "Then I believe you, my lady,"
Risa clasped her hands and turned towards the balcony.
"I always knew there was something…off about that Admin," Risa growled, "But murder!? It is good the User is alive, but we need to know where he is,"
"This was the last stop on my journey," Quorra said, "I can search after I am done here,"
Risa nodded, her deep brown eyes hardening slightly.
"Lady Quorra…I may not have your mother's gift of clairvoyance," she began, "But I do know when danger threatens my city. I fear that Thallium will not survive the night. Will you do something for me?"
"Just name it," Quorra stated, "I'll do my best to do what is needed,"
Risa turned to the side.
"Ada!" she called and a tall, dark-haired ISO girl ran in.
"Yes Mother?" Ada asked before seeing Quorra, "Oh! Greetings, my lady,"
"Please, you don't have to give me any formalities," Quorra said shyly.
Risa gave a soft smile and turned to her daughter.
"Ada, I need you to go with Quorra," she said softly, "I don't know if we'll get to see each other again…"
"What are you talking about?" Ada asked.
"Clu's declared war on the ISOs," Quorra told her, "He's destroyed the End of Line club in Tron City as well as the enclave there, he's destroyed the Enclaves in Argon and Gallium as well,"
"But we're safe here…right?" Ada asked, looking up at her mother, "Right?"
"I don't know," Risa admitted, "But I'd rather have my daughter safe and sound than constantly worry that Clu will end my line,"
"But what about you?" Ada asked softly.
"I'll be fine," Risa promised, holding her daughter's shoulders.
"I'll take good care of her, Risa," Quorra started, "I have a friend that's a Monitor…he's helping me take down Clu,"
"Good," Risa nodded, "Ada, I want you to go to Arjia with Quorra, I need you to…"
"My lady!" an ISO guard started, "Recognizers to the east…along with this warship of some sort,"
"The Regulator," Quorra breathed, "Risa, Clu's coming…we need to get as many ISOs out as we can,"
"No," Risa shook her head, "I need you to get Ada out. Bring her to Radia…perhaps she can help us,"
Quorra nodded and Ada rushed to her mother, embracing her tightly.
"Goodbye my dear one," Risa murmured, kissing Ada's dark head, "If I don't see you soon…then we will meet on the other side,"
Ada nodded tearfully and turned to follow Quorra.
The two ran out of the Enclave and into the streets, rezzing two lightcycles and shooting out of Thallium…
Right as the Regulator leveled the city.
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"Ada," Quorra tried again as they walked into the Gallium city limits, "You have to talk sometime,"
"You have your home destroyed right in front of you…see how you like it," Ada snapped, grossing her arms, "As far as I know, Arjia still stands while Thallium and my mother are nothing but dusty voxels,"
"I know what you're going through…" Quorra started.
"NO YOU DON'T!" Ada yelled, "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING!"
"You assume too much," Quorra replied icily.
She turned her head as images and sounds flooded her memory. Gentle, ice blue eyes, an easy smile, a loud laugh, her mother's tears, a broken piece of Disk that Quorra still carried…
"You remember the fate of Jalen?" Quorra asked softly, closing her eyes.
Ada's eyes turned less fiery and she put a hand on Quorra's shoulder.
"I…I'm sorry. You've lost a family member too. The whole ISO community knows what you've lost. I shouldn't have snapped,"
"You were angry," Quorra told her, "And grieving…My mother snapped at quite a few attendants in the few cycles after my father's death. I ran and avoided Arjia and the Gaming Grid like they were infested with Gridbugs,"
Ada gave a small sigh and Quorra put her arm around her.
"Don't worry, everything's going to be fine…you'll see,"
Ada gave a slight smile and Quorra returned it…only to freeze a few moments later.
"Quorra…what's wrong?" Ada asked.
"We're being followed," Quorra growled softly as out of the alleyway came a group of masked, male Programs.
"More like surrounded," Ada whispered.
"What are two pretty little Programs doing out in the streets at this time of the night?" one of them asked.
"That's none of your concern," Quorra growled.
"You lost?"
"Like she said," Ada piped up, "That's none of your concern,"
The male turned to his friends a smile on his face.
"C'mon," he purred, grabbing Ada's arm, "We'll help you find your way,"
Ada's free hand snapped out and crashed against the male's helmet, knocking him back a few feet.
He shook his head, and his exposed mouth curved down into an unamused smile as he ignited his Disk and slashed. Ada screamed and Quorra yelled, her own Disk flickering out and sending the offending weapon slashing off to the side…nicking her own side but not before hitting Ada pretty badly.
Ada crumpled to the ground, her eyes fluttering shut and Quorra knelt next to her.
She glared up at the group.
"Leave us alone!" Quorra snarled, holding Ada as the gang came closer.
They just laughed and Quorra renewed her grip on the blazing Disk, if they thought she was just going to let them kill her…
They were sadly mistaken.
A black and mint green blur appeared out of nowhere, launching upwards and wrapping a thin arm around one of the gang member's throats, yanking him backwards. Quorra's ice-blue eyes locked onto the honey-colored gaze of her rescuer…a medic!
The medic launched into the fight, kicking and hitting. Quorra staggered upright, her hand still clamped over her side, blue code dripping from the wound. The medic stood upright, her honey-colored eyes bright and warm as she smirked.
"Nice," Quorra beamed.
A shuffling sound caught her attention as a gang member charged her.
"Use your opponent's momentum against them!" Tron's ghost ordered from the recesses of her memory.
Quorra whipped around, grabbing the Program's outstretched hand by the wrist and flipped him over her shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Nice!" the medic smiled.
Quorra gave a weak smile before turning back to Ada. The Child ISO picked up her fellow Child ISO friend and slung her arm over her shoulders.
"Thanks," Quorra said, "You're a medic…right?"
She nodded, coming to the other side of Ada and picking up some of the weight.
"Let's get you both fixed up," the medic started, "I'm Paige,"
"Quorra," the daughter of Jalen and Radia replied, "It's nice to meet you, Paige,"
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Paige was wonderfully skilled, healing Quorra's slash in a matter of nanos. Ada took more time, seeing as she was more damaged than either of them.
Quorra looked at her friend, worried.
"Will she be alright?" she asked Paige.
"Some of her wounds were pretty nasty," Paige admitted, "But…she'll make it,"
Quorra gave a sigh of relief and then hung her head.
"I guess we made easy targets," she muttered.
Paige picked up Quorra's Disk and turned it on, showing the holographic image of Quorra's code. The triple helix signature of the ISOs cast its soft Arjian white light across the room. Even Radia's skill couldn't hide the white light of Quorra's code.
"Your code is extremely complex," Paige murmured, "And I think I see two different types…let me guess…you're a Child Program?"
Quorra gave a faint smile and shrugged.
"Who are your parents then?" Paige's friend, Rox, asked.
"My father is dead," she said.
"I'm sorry," Paige comforted, "If you don't mind me asking…how did he die?"
Quorra bowed her head.
"The games," she murmured, "He died fighting,"
"I'm sorry," Paige replied.
"It's fine," Quorra dismissed, "But…what was this about my code?"
"Oh…I've never seen anything like it," Paige shrugged.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Quorra replied with a faint smile as Paige returned her Disk, "Times are hard…ever since the War,"
"Are you soldiers?" Paige asked.
Quorra gave a sad smile…Paige's curiosity rivaled that of any ISO…including herself.
"Refugees," Quorra corrected, "My home city became a target of the Purge…I ran and met up with Ada, whose city also fell victim to the Purge when some ISOs were discovered there…we barely made it out alive,"
"It must have been terrifying having ISOs in your own city," Rox started.
"I've heard they're insane," Paige's other friend, Dex, continued, "That they can even derezz Programs with their bare hands…"
Quorra's eyes flashed in slight anger before cooling.
"I'm…pretty sure that's just a rumor," she said through gritted teeth.
Paige picked up on Quorra's anger and she turned to her friends.
"Why don't you guys go and check on that patient with the derezzed leg?" she asked, "He kept complaining that he was in pain,"
"Sure," Rox said, grabbing Dex's arm, "C'mon, let's go,"
Quorra turned her icy gaze to Paige.
"Thanks," she said, "I don't mind people talking about the ISOs…its when they bring up those ridiculous rumors that irritates me,"
"I could tell,"
"They're not evil," Quorra continued, "Some of my friends were among the faction…and where I lived, almost every other Program was an ISO,"
"Where did you live? Not Arjia…"
Quorra gave a helpless shrug.
"You're an Arjian," Paige said with an incredulous laugh.
"All my run-time," Quorra smiled.
"I've never been…is it as beautiful as they say?"
Quorra gave a fond smile as she closed her eyes.
"Oh yes," she said, "The delicate buildings that look like they'd derezz if you touch them but can hold many times our own weight, the sparkling of the code as it streams through the streets and into the Nexus, the music…"
"Music?" Paige asked, intrigued, "I've always wanted to hear the music of the other cities…I've just about heard everything here in Gallium. I've even gone to making my own,"
"You play?" Quorra asked, wide eyed, "Would you mind if Ada and I heard you…once she wakes up?"
Paige gave a slightly nervous smile.
"Sure,"
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Nanos later, Ada woke up and Paige came back with a Monome. The young Medic set the instrument on the table and began to play, Quorra leaned on the table her foot tapping to the beat of the soft, beautiful melody.
"It's beautiful," she whispered and Paige stopped.
"Ah it's…it's really simple," Paige stammered, "It's just something I made up. I wasn't programmed for music,"
"You could have fooled me," Ada stated, getting up and walking over to the table.
"Well you're obviously capable of learning some things that aren't in your programming," Quorra pointed out, "I have a friend who does a pretty good patch job even though he's not a Medic,"
"Your playing proves it," Ada nodded.
"It's not very hard," Paige dismissed with a slight laugh.
"I'm sure you could learn anything you put your mind to," Quorra told her.
"Like…how to take someone down in a single move?" Paige grinned, her arms held in a ready position, "Like you?"
Quorra looked at Ada, who grinned back.
"Why not?" Quorra shrugged, walking around the table and motioning for Paige to join her, "The key is to use your opponent's momentum against them,"
She held up her fists in a standard ready position.
"Punch me," she ordered.
Paige swung, it was uncontrolled and wild, but there was a lot of power behind it. Quorra's hands, movements honed to perfection by both her father and Tron's training, moved swiftly and grabbed Paige's wrist, flipping the Medic over her shoulder with a yelp.
"Wow!" Paige said with a shaky gasp, "That's amazing! Who taught you!?"
Quorra gave a sad smile.
"It doesn't matter…they're both long derezzed," she sighed, "Now, let me show you again. Slowly. Then you can try,"
She set herself in a ready position…when a flicker of black caught her eye. Ada was wildly pointing at Quorra's arm. Paige's honey colored gaze widened and then narrowed while Quorra's slid down at her arm…
Just to see the stark, Arjian-white ISO glyph burning against her skin.
"Oh no!" Quorra thought, her hand clamping over her arm.
"Oh no…" Paige breathed, "You're an ISO!"
"Paige…" Quorra pleaded, eyes wild.
"That's why your code was so complex!" Paige fumed, "Why didn't you tell me!?"
"Would you have helped us if I had?" Quorra asked.
"She'll alert the patrols," Ada said, coming to Quorra's side, "We can't allow that,"
Paige gave a frustrated growl, pushing past Quorra and swept the Monome off the table, exposing the red alarm button.
Ada started forwards, but Quorra stopped her.
"You have to believe me, Paige," Quorra pleaded, "We're not dangerous! We just want to live in peace! Everything on the Grid, including you and your friends, was designed by Flynn…except for us! We're free! It's the only reason we're being hunted. Please…don't say anything to anyone. I can trust you…can't I?"
Paige's hard amber gaze flicked to Quorra…and she crossed her arms, storming out of the room.
Quorra gave a sigh of relief.
One crisis averted.
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Quorra and Ada walked up behind Paige, who was staring out over Gallium with her Monome in hand.
"Ada and I are…leaving now," Quorra said softly.
Silence.
Quorra's gaze flicked to the Monome and she gave a sad smile.
"I'm sorry I won't get to hear you play again…" she started, right as alarms went off.
All three female Programs looked around wildly and Quorra's core sank as she saw what was going on outside…
Recognizers…lots and lots of Recognizers flying into the city.
"Attention Programs: An ISO contamination has been reported. Please prepare Disks for scanning."
Even the Grid Herself seemed to be against them. Quorra knew that if they scanned Paige's Disk…they'd find out that she helped them and didn't turn them in when she had the chance…
They'd kill her.
Quorra took a deep breath and started forwards, throwing Paige across the hall and into the wall, making the young Medic hit her head hard. Paige's golden eyes looked up weakly at Quorra, betrayal clear in them.
"Sorry Paige," Quorra breathed as the honey-colored eyes fluttered shut.
"Quorra…why?" Ada asked, "Now she'll never trust ISOs!"
"Yeah," Quorra told her, "But at least she'll be alive. C'mon,"
And they ran.
The two had almost made it out of the city when a spotlight came down on them. Both ISOs covered their faces with their hands and backed up.
"Halt!" a Black Guard ordered, "Relinquish your Disks for scanning!"
"Quorra…go!" Ada ordered, "I'll hold them off!"
"But…" Quorra protested.
"You have something to live for," Ada told her, "My family is gone. Clu killed them! And with my wound…I'll only slow you down. Get back to Arjia, tell your mother what happened,"
Quorra embraced her friend and Ada did the same.
"Good luck, and may the User be with you," Ada said before turning around, pulling out a light baton and extending it into its katana form, "You want my Disk? COME AND TAKE IT!"
And she sprinted off.
Quorra ran in the opposite direction…but she wasn't far enough that she didn't hear Ada's screams.
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Quorra had made it back to Arjia, breathing hard as she sat down in her hiding spot where she and Anon had first hid. Gone…all of them! All the ISOs were gone!
She and Radia were the only ones left.
Quorra heard the sound of footsteps and she peeked out around the corner to see who it was. The young Child-ISO nearly cried in relief as she lunged out and grabbed Anon by the shoulder armor, making him squawk in surprise.
"Come here!" she ordered, sitting him down next to her, "We were too late. Clu hit every ISO enclave before we could prepare. It was brutal it was…it was a Purge!"
She closed her eyes as the dying screams of her people echoed in her ears.
"I know Radia told me to…but I shouldn't have stayed hidden," she murmured, "Maybe I could have helped!"
Anon tilted his helmet towards her and Quorra sighed.
"You're right," she started, "I have to trust she had her reasons,"
She gestured for Anon to follow her and the two crawled back into their viewing spot…
Only to see Clu standing before Radia…and to say Radia looked angry would have been an understatement.
"Do what you're here to do," Radia spat bitterly as Clu circled her.
Quorra felt Anon tensing beside her, his circuits flickering darkly as his hands clenched. The young ISO didn't move though…she was too terrified of the scene before her. She had lost her father…now was she to lose her mother too?
"Oh, we'll get to that," Clu purred, "But first…tell me how it felt, the loss of every other ISO on the Grid…"
He turned towards her, smiling wickedly.
"Could you feel it?" he asked.
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Radia's honey colored eyes hardened in pain and anger. Yes she felt it…but she knew that she was not the last. Quorra…oh no.
Quorra was here, watching. Clu couldn't know…she had to keep Quorra hidden! She couldn't lose her daughter like she lost her Jalen.
"You're not capable of understanding," Radia growled.
Clu scowled angrily, rejected by the ISO leader once again.
"Enough of this," he snarled, looking up…
Right as the soft, sinister footsteps of the Virus sounded off in the room. The Black Guards shied away from him and he didn't care.
He had eyes for only one.
"Don't be afraid, Radia," the Virus whispered softly, "I wasn't,"
Radia's core froze.
That voice…could it…? No, no that was impossible!
But she had to know.
"Jalen?" she whispered, stunned, "Is…is that you?"
"Jalen is gone," the Virus stated, "It's Abraxas now,"
Oh Users…it was him!
She felt Quorra's shock from where she stood. Her father was alive!
"The accident…" Radia murmured, turning to Clu, hot angry tears pricking her eyes, "You didn't kill him, Clu! You changed him! What did you DO!?"
"I simply brought out his true self," Clu replied nonchalantly.
Radia's hands trembled as she reached out for her beloved…or what used to be him.
"Jalen…" she breathed, "What happened?"
"It doesn't matter!" Jalen, Abraxas, growled…with great difficulty as he leaned away from her healing touch, "This is what I am now…and what you will be,"
She felt his gaze pierce her, like it had done all those cycles ago.
"A disease, in case you weren't following," Clu chimed in.
"Shut. Up!" Radia internally howled, "Leave me be! Turn him back! Give my Jalen back to me!"
"Like all ISOs," Clu continued, reaching up and caressing her cheek.
She saw the Virus tense as Clu touched her…and part of her dared to hope that the ISO she loved was still in there somewhere.
"It just needs a little encouragement to bring it out," Clu finished.
Radia glared at him.
"That abomination is not Jalen, not my husband. It's not an ISO," she snarled, shaking in cold fury, "It's a perversion that you created!"
Clu snorted.
"Name calling? Really?" he scoffed, "That's how you want to go out?"
He brushed the crystal hanging from her headdress and Radia snapped.
Her hand snapped out and smacked against Clu's cheek, leaving a large red handprint on it. Clu's gold-tinted blue gaze blazed in anger as he turned away.
Radia's gaze turned towards what used to be Jalen right as he stalked towards her.
"Goodbye…Radia…" the Virus whispered, rearing back his Disk.
"Radia…no!" she heard Quorra gasp.
The ISO turned her head towards her daughter, a sad smile gracing her face.
"I love you, Quorra," she mouthed before turning back to the Virus…
Right as he rammed his broken Disk into her chest.
Radia gasped as the infection's pain spread throughout her. She looked up at Jalen once more, a tear streaking down her face as light began to whirl around her…
And she let out a last cry before shattering into silver-white cubes.
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"No!" Quorra cried softly, burying her head in her hands.
She felt Anon's arms wrap around her, trying to comfort her.
But she couldn't be comforted…she, like Anon, now had lost everything. Her people: dead, her mother: Dead too, her father: worse than dead. And it was all. Clu's. Fault!
Quorra's eyes blazed angrily and she started towards the dictator…only for Anon to catch her arm.
"I can't hide anymore!" she hissed, tears streaming, "Clu has to be held accountable! For Radia, for everyone!"
She poked Anon in the chest hard.
"Either help me," she snarled, "Or step aside!"
Anon threw a look at the Virus…at what used to be Quorra's father…Quorra knew that Anon had his directives screaming at him for the Virus' deresolution. And she didn't blame him for following his directive. After all…Anon was a Basic.
Abraxas had yet to move…it was as if he was staring at where Radia used to be…trying to figure out what exactly he had done to the love of his former life. Anon turned his blank, helmeted gaze back to Quorra, begging her forgiveness.
"Fine," she hissed, jerking her hand back and storming off.
Clu was going to die for what he did to her family!
Next is Quorra sneaking onto the Regulator and trying to sabotage it...and we all know how that ends.
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.