CHAPTER 7
Sam stood over Quorra's motionless body. The Shaman Programs had not stopped since Sam had left but still Quorra's infected interface looked no different. The calm blue uninfected areas were still few and far between; the red corruption lacing its way through her system was indeed elegant as Gate had described it. Looking down at her Sam's thoughts spoke to him as if he were conversing with her. Sam had wanted to have seen some progress made by the Shaman Programs, he had wanted Quorra to be sitting in the middle the room waiting for him to return with her wide and perfect eyes. Sam continued to stare as his heart continued to sink deeper into a threatening abyss within him. Thoughts of their time outside of The Grid pushed themselves to the front of his mind, vividly Sam could see Quorra strapped down with wires and metal; derezzolution crystals falling from the open wounds where medical tools had left their signatures. Unlike now, back then Quorra was moving, struggling to get free trying to scream, trying to free herself form the pain… at least for now she was unaware of any pain... Sam cursed himself once more for all the suffering he had brought Quorra and then cursed the world outside of The Grid and all of the people in it that would use a gift such as her as a weapon.
Sam looked away from Quorra and towards Gate who was stood in the doorway of the room. Rage stung Sam's eyes and as he walked away from Quorra each step he took thundered through his body; Sam's thoughts continued to talk to him, words of revenge and retribution filled his mind he would bring war to The Grid; a one man army who would stop at nothing. The Ghost of The Grid would fall and he would recreate The Grid into a paradise for Quorra a safe world for her to exist within… a haven.
Outside of the room Sam met four new Programs waiting by The Sanctuary's entrance. Sam had never seen Programs like this before; their bodies were completely covered with their light suits and masks, the large eyes on their masks shone with the pale blue light of their suits and their fingertips shared pale blue light tips on every finger. Sam stood staring at the new Programs unaware of where they had come from and what they were. The four new Programs stared back at Sam with a deep silence; they weren't going to talk… Sam eventually craned his neck away from the compelling wonderment of the new Programs, turned to Gate and questioned him with his gaze. Gate clocked Sam's expression and spoke softly but with authority; Gate recited to Sam an event which happened in the city after The Ghost's appearance. A panic in the streets had to be policed, the chaos had to be quelled a group of experienced martial arts Programs hid their identities and took to the streets; the riot was overcome and peace restored; there had been ten of those Programs now there were only four; they pride themselves on being invisible in the darkness of The Grid and they had loaned their services to those in this Sanctuary. Sam listened to Gate's words and turned back to the Programs; Ninja Programs, Sam thought to himself.
"Neat." said Sam aloud.
Sam looked from the Ninja Programs and to The Sanctuary's entrance as the doors opened. The Programs walked forward first and stood a few feet outside of the door on their guard ready for an attack. Sam motioned for a Light Baton, he would ride through the Outlands and make it to the retreat in the mountains; he stepped forward when Gate stopped him.
"Most terrain vehicles will malfunction in the Outlands and it is too dangerous to make your way to the retreat in the mountains by flight; this is my Light Baton, it is heavily modified to withstand concussive impacts and problematic terrain. This is the last I can do for you."
Sam took the Light Baton from Gate with a sullen expression. It was now the time to move forward and Sam could no longer hold on to the past. Sam took another step forward and began walking towards the entrance with Gate's Light Baton in hand. As Sam walked he pushed all of his recent memories out of his mind; the first time he had been on the Grid with his father, the tragedy that had befallen Quorra outside of The Grid and Quorra herself. Sam felt that this was goodbye but he couldn't dwell on it… Breaking into a sprint Sam leapt out of The Sanctuary's entrance and activated Gate's Light Baton. Surrounded with pale blue light and encompassed in mechanical noise Sam felt a form building around him a safe shell in the form of a Hum-Vee like vehicle. The Vehicle hit the ground, its suspensions cushioning the landing with ease. The smooth noise of the engine comforted Sam, it was strong, elegant and ready. A short series of knocking on the roof of the vehicle told Sam that the Ninja Programs had boarded and were with him wholly and completely. His eyes focused on the distance in front of him, Sam floored the pedal and raced off towards the mountains outside of the city.
Gate watched as Sam sped off into the distance. Silently Gate let his mind wander into a possible future, The Ghost of The Grid appeased and peace reigning once more, it was a future where The Son of Flynn had survived his ordeal and a golden age was beginning. A hissing breeze froze Gate's thoughts, snapping his eyes open Gate took rushed backward steps back into the entrance of The Sanctuary and threw the doors shut in front of him. Gate's body pulsated with fear, his eyes as wide as they had ever been. Gate's thoughts gelled into hard focus. He had sent Sam to his death, the hissing breeze, death's whisper itself, the call of the Ghost of The Grid was already upon Sam and it had been this close to The Sanctuary all this time. Gate's body turned ice cold as his mind pictured the Ghost of The Grid hovering above The Sanctuary ever since Sam's arrival. Each thought sliced through Gate's mind like a shard of glass; Sam didn't have a chance and The Grid's last hope would be gone before it could begin. For the first time Gate prayed, he prayed that Sam was every bit the son of his father and had the instinct to survive. Gate then prayed for a miracle.