AN: And this week's MVRs (Most Valuable Readers) are... Strawberry's n cream, Juliet Knighly, BetaReject and Krisdaughter of Athena! Thank you so much for your reviews. As any writer knows, feedback is very motivating. It's great to know that 130 people have viewed 350 pages of this story so far, but it's even greater to read a couple words of encouragement, a few lines of interpretation or several paragraphs of theories about future developments :D

There will be an important question in the notes at the end, do not hesitate to make your preferences known!

She didn't understand how a group of twenty six programs had the slightest chance of going unnoticed if the Occupation started looking for them in any serious way, but the Renegade apparently had a plan. He led them through narrow streets and dark alleys. Honest programs weren't used to this kind of environment, and it showed: they remained alert and tightly packed. Even Bartik and Hopper, whose morality Mara considered doubtful at best, seemed to take comfort in the proximity of the mechanics they usually bullied. She couldn't help but wonder what they were doing there. Not so long ago, Hopper had tried to arrest their white-suited leader right after the latter had prevented the public derezzolution of the Occupation's minion. Had something changed his mind or was he trying to play the long con? Mara promised herself she would keep an eye on Bartik and him.

Speaking of watchful eyes, they had still to bump into a single sentry. It didn't make sense to the blue-haired mechanic: weren't those shady places precisely where you should be sending patrols if you wanted to catch rebels? But the Renegade was obviously used to such complacency from the Occupation. He was walking confidently and didn't seem as cautious as Mara would have imagined. She suspected that asking them to try not to look guilty was more of a way to keep them on their toes than an actual necessity. For now, at least.

It took them thirty minutes to get to the rim of the industrial district. The Renegade drew his disk and cut a passage in a fence, motioning them to go through. He joined them on the other side.

"The entrance to the tunnels isn't far away. Rezz your lightcycles and follow me. There has been a massive explosion some cycles ago–

- You'd know about that..."

Zed was still a little sour about the race, apparently. But the Great pyrotechnist, Stealer of bikes and Destroyer of dreams didn't take offense.

"Yes. My point is, there are probably a lot of debris. Maybe even collapsed tunnels. Don't go too fast and be ready to brake at any moment."

Sounds like Able when we're about to test a bike... the thought put a sad smile on Mara's lips and reminded her that the Renegade had promised to explain her what had happened to the senior mechanic. She didn't know why her first reaction had been to suspect him. Grief had probably clouded her judgment. It didn't make any sense for the brave rebel she had come to admire to start blowing up innocent programs, especially ones he had saved more than once! As logical as this conclusion was, though, he was linked to those events, one way or another. The real culprit had been wearing his suit.

For now the said suit was mounting on a lightcycle and Mara rezzed her own, as the rest of the fugitives. They slowly entered one of the tunnels in single file. At first everything looked quite normal and she wondered why they weren't going faster, but soon they had to drive around small piles of debris. The deeper they went, the more extensive the damages were. Twice, they had to stop completely while the Renegade and two or three of them were cutting their way through the rubble. The second time found her next to Zed. He had a thoughtful look behind his bike's windshield. Maybe he's starting to resent Tron a little bit less for interrupting the race ?

It took them almost an hour to reach the exit their guide had in mind. Mara was glad she could see the sky again and for a few seconds, she didn't even realize they were now in the Outlands. Surrounded by... nothing. Argon was concealed behind a crest and the landscape was barely lit by a dim light falling through the clouds. There were no buildings, no energy lines on the ground, the circuits of their lightcycles and suits were the brightest things in sight. Mara realized that the vast majority of the Grid had to be like that : dark, empty. Foreign.

The Renegade shook them out of their awe.

"Alright. I know you tried to protect the... to protect me because it felt like the right thing to do, but now you've had time to think and some of you have probably realized they didn't want to go as far as to join the Uprising. Am I correct?"

Nobody answered but several programs uncomfortably shifted from one foot to the other.

"If you go this way, you'll reach the highway to Gallium. Keep Argon behind your left shoulder, don't fall in any crevasse and it won't take you more than thirty minutes. The city will be a two-hour drive away after that. There are no orange guys there. Not yet. Keep a low profile, don't stick together and you should be fine. Questions?"

There were none. Three mechanics simply nodded, murmured timid thanks and drove away. Then five more. And four after them. But Tron was still waiting. Finally, Link walked to him. He tried to say something but failed. The Renegade put a hand on his shoulder and the thin mechanic finally murmured:

"Thank you, Tron. I wish I could...
- Don't worry. Thank you for what you've done already, program."

Link straightened himself up and started to walk away, but he seemed to remember something.

"You know, I'm not mad at you. For the roadster. I didn't really deserve it anyway."

Since he wasn't looking at the Renegade, he didn't notice his reaction. The white helmet was slightly cocked on the side. It looked to Mara like he had no idea what Link was talking about. She realized that she had seen him in this exact posture some time earlier: when she had reminded him about his promise regarding Able's derezzolution. Did the mighty Tron suffer from memory loss ? He's old, after all... some programs even say Flynn brought him from the old system!

Old or not, his voice didn't waver when he addressed the remaining programs.

"Last chance to change your minds."

Nobody answered but the silence was different this time. It was determined, not embarrassed. Mara counted their little group: Zed, Dash, Copper, Bartik, Hopper and seven others whose names she didn't remember. Thirteen new freedom fighters, herself included, exactly half of the original group. She could only hope they'd prove more reliable than Rasket and Moog! At least, she comforted herself, it's not like Tron can send me back, this time. She was going to make sure dismissing her was the last thing on his mind.

A few minutes later, while they were speeding through the bare desolation of the Outlands, she suddenly remembered someone and felt ashamed not to have thought of him sooner. What's Beck going to do when he realizes we're gone?

For now, Beck was walking toward Able's office. My office now, I guess. But he knew it would take him a long time to start considering the room as his. Users, I still haven't come around to emptying Bodhi's locker! No, he wasn't going to move Able's things anytime soon. His chair, however... his big, comfortable chair... Beck was totally going to use it. He had just spent one hour explaining the situation to the remaining mechanics, organizing new teams and setting up new shifts in order to keep the garage operational. He needed more manpower, it was as simple as that. But right now he needed some rest even more, and he couldn't afford to disappear in his quarters. Yeah, Able's chair will do.

He entered the familiar room, closed the door behind him and let a loud sigh out.

"Tired?"

The voice made Beck jump. He quickly cast an eye over the room and his glance was drawn by orange circuits in a very recognizable pattern. Paige was standing against the back wall, a datapad in hand.

"Pai... commander. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

He was quite proud of his calm tone but also a little bit disappointed by Paige's own composure. She hadn't even flinched when he had used her official rank instead of her name.

"General Tesler wants me to watch over the garage.

- Why did he put me in charge if he doesn't trust me?

- He does trust you," she replied with a scoff, "he thinks you like me and you're angry at the Renegade for hurting me. He's quite fond of subordinates with... personal motivations to obey him. But since so many of your colleagues joined our local troublemaker, the garage is now a potential target.

- I do, you know. Like you, I mean.

Beck had not planned to bring the subject up in such a way, but he couldn't help it. He was still hurt by her incomprehensible rejection. Of all people, she decides to trust Pavel and somehow it's my fault and it means we can't see each other again ? Flynn knew there would have been an excellent reason for her to break up with him, and probably to try - again - to derezz him while she was at it, but luckily Paige didn't know that reason. Which didn't prevent her from frowning.

"Now is not the time, Beck.

- You made that much clear, commander.

- Stop calling me that.

- I'd call you Paige, but I don't want to... what was it, again? Soften you up."

It was childish of him and he knew it, but he couldn't repress the surge of satisfaction that he felt as her frown deepened into a scowl.

"Funny you say that, mechanic. Because I think that's exactly what you want.

- Well you're not exactly–

- Shut up."

That was harsh. Before Beck could react, Paige walked to him, then waved the datapad - Able's datapad, he realized - in his face.

"You've missed quite a few shifts, lately. How come?

- I've been working on a side project...

- And yet you still had time for traveling.

- I didn't!

- What were you doing in the train to Bismuth, then?"

Beck didn't like where the discussion was headed. Instead of a neutral face, he opted for a mocking one.

"Apart from saving the passengers and yourself, you mean?

- And Keller, incidentally.

- Who's Keller?"

His voice wasn't as light as it should have been and he knew it. Something had raised Paige's suspicion. But what? And why now? Instead of answering him, she unexpectedly turned away from him and made a few steps toward the circular desk. Beck stayed where he was. The room remained silent for a few seconds before Paige went on, still not looking at him, her tone abnormally detached.

"You know, I discovered something strange about the Renegade."

He had to do something, anything. If she turned back to him at this moment, his stillness would be a dead giveaway. Beck forced himself to move toward a table and casually picked a baton. He started to fiddle with it and asked in a politely curious voice:

"What would that be?

- If it was not for him, I would have been derezzed at the crash site, earlier. He protected me.

- You didn't look really protected when I found you...

- When you found me, right. How lucky was I that you decided to explore the wreck!

- I've always been curious."

Beck heard her heels clicking closer and closer but didn't look at her. You're an innocent program, Beck. You don't have to keep an eye on an approaching Occupation soldier. Just keep doing whatever you're doing. Paige stopped one, maybe two steps away.

"There's only one problem, Beck.

- Nothing you can't arrange, I'm sure.

- You start a time consuming side project a few cycles after the Renegade's first appearance. You decide to travel to Bismuth in the very same train than a deserting military scientist. You happen to find my unconscious body just in time in the middle of a gigantic wreck. That's a lot of coincidences. Too many for my taste."

Her voice is so casual ! And yet she knows. Somehow. He felt his whole body tense when he realized that it could only end in a fight. Kick her in the stomach to gain some space. Draw your disk. Fight your way to the door. But Paige didn't wait for him to take back the initiative he had so carelessly abandoned to her. He heard a disk activating right next to his neck. When she asked her next question, her tone was cold.

"How long have you been helping the Renegade, Beck?"

Muahaha, you thought she was going to find the full truth after five chapters only? No way. Beck is still in trouble, though. How do you think he's going to pull himself out of this mess?

And now, the important question. When I started this story, I just wanted to extend Uprising, but I have to go somewhere. There are three options. I can:

- make the junction with Legacy (finish the story where the movie picks it up)

- write an alternate Legacy (modify the movie to integrate Uprising characters and events)

- ignore Legacy and write whatever I feel like writing (I could still use the movie characters if you want to see them, but I wouldn't try to respect the movie storyline)

Let me know what you prefer and once again, thank you for reading!