Chapter 3: Rise of the Warrior

Time swirls infinitely in the endless vortex of reality, forming colorful lines and shapes. I stare in awe, mouth agape. They are beautiful. Sometimes, I see those users call animals. Big, small, peaceful, threatening. Do they not realize they're trapped in here? If they do, they don't seem to care. They are so.. carefree. Is it good for them, being oblivious? I stand here, pondering the idea. What good is a cage if it doesn't seem like a cage to the caged? Is that all that matters? Then again, we all live in cages our entire lives. We start out in a small cage inside a bigger cage inside an even larger box locked up in the world. And then someone out there must have built the cages. What for? Entertainment? Are they looking at us right now, watching us function without being aware of the strings?

I must be in a cage, too, but I like it here. I marvel at it. It feels warm and magnificent, one endless wave of change and emotion, the embodiment of infinity. A miracle.

The image of courage brought up from all the corners of young Sam Flynn's mind is at the very least impressive. He's fought his way through the guards and come back for her, with a passion only users can awaken. Even though she was expecting his return, she's unable to celebrate it anymore, since she's not entirely here. Only the glossy carapace remains, empty of life, filled with aimless energy instead.

"I've got you, Quorra. Let's get out of here!" He grabs her hand and tries to pull her away, but the ISO doesn't cooperate; she doesn't move an inch.

A deep, familiar voice echoes through the space. "You're too late, son of Flynn. Just like your father; your weakness has led to a friend's demise in my hands. Funny how history has a way of repeating itself, isn't it?"

Clu stands up from his couch and spreads his arms towards Sam with a smile. The boy gazes at Quorra, then at his father's image, and back at her, puzzled. His brow wrinkles as he tugs at her hand again. "Quorra, snap out of it. We gotta go!"

She stares right through him, her eyes devoid of emotion or thought. Clu chuckles as he watches the user's miserable tries to make her listen and come with him.

Oh, how she would have wished to run, to hold his hand and never let go, to tell him what happened and that he should never have returned for her. To scream at Clu to spare him and quit the damn game. But she doesn't anymore, and even if she did, she couldn't; the ability of verbal communication or expressing opinion is not in her code anymore. It's been ripped out and torn to shreds, making her a few dozen brain cells under average.

The seed of doubt in his look is growing into a full-blown flower with deadly thorns that spit poison into his heart. He puts his hands on her shoulders and tries to see her in front of him. He can't. "What happened to you?" he whispers, frightened.

I can see him and feel his warmth in my palm, and it's comforting, for a moment. I don't quite recognize the man, but he gives off a pleasant vibe. He's handsome, looks friendly, and he seems to care about me. It's nice to see someone else who cares. The only one who has so far is Clu, who's stood by my side for as long as I can remember.

His circuitry is white; neutral programs have white circuits. I would smile at him if my code allowed me to.

His worried expression makes me feel uneasy, however. Maybe it's not me he was looking for? But I am the only one here; I've always been, besides Clu. He calls me a strange name. "Quorra," he says. "Snap out of it," he says. He's got it all wrong; I don't know any Quorra. There's no information about her on my disc. I'm the Black Knight. I'd like to point him in the right direction, if I knew where that Quorra is. I feel sorry for him, though. He looks like he misses her a lot. I don't want to see him sad. I want to comfort him, but I can't move. It's not in the code.

"What happened to you?" he asks.

I scan my memory folders for the earliest file quickly and I remember. When I want to speak up, however, my mouth doesn't obey. I can't make a sound. It's not in the code.

I want to tell him! He's desperate for this information and seeing someone like this, stranger or not, unable to look away or express sympathy, makes me upset. I try to override the system, find a backdoor. A piece of cake – the only thing I need is to be faster than myself, right?

"I… have been… reprogrammed," she finally stutters after a cold silence too long for his liking.

Sam gasps involuntarily. "No…"

Clu claps, admiring the feat. "She's something, isn't she? She can accomplish great things, if accompanied by the right allies. Don't worry; I made sure she would."

"What have you done!" He lunges at Clu with a fierce cry, not even bothering to use his disc. He almost trips when he notices that Quorra swiftly blocks the way, lightsword out and ready.

"Get out of my way!" he hisses.

"She won't listen to you anymore. Look at the color of her circuits. She's on my side now, boy."

Sam steps closer to her, ignoring the glowing blade aimed at his chest. "I don't believe him. If that is true, then tell me yourself."

Clu walks over to the two of them and rests his hand on his new warrior's shoulder. "So, tell him, little one," he commands with a proud grin.

The user clenches his hands and pierces her with an intense gaze, but it doesn't pass the invisible barriers. It didn't even have a chance to begin with.

"I fight for the system."

Author's Note: Why is it that every chapter I think would be the last (that is, the last 3 chapters) is... not? I'm sorry, I'm sorry, even though I guess I'm apologizing more to myself than to you because this fic is constantly eating my sleep; every time the plot bunnies stop by for a visit, it's already past midnight. I'm not even sure where I'm going with this and, to be honest, I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter. But I just want it to be over already, lol. The fourth chapter will be the last one, I'm telling you!

Also - I made Clu adress Quorra "little one" in a sarcastic way of sorts, as they are both Kevin Flynn's "confidants" and I think Clu definitely is the type to think "pssssh, this silly kid program is totally lame compared to my awesomeness". In his eyes, she something less, even though he admires her, since he's a bit blinded by jealousy... if that makes sense.