Take me above your light, Carry me through the night, Hold me secure in flight, Sing me to sleep tonight - Hello Seattle, Owl City

Chapter Twenty One

Reunited

"Mira, it's been such a long time!" Mira let out a gasp when Quorra rushed over to hug her. She smirked and returned the gesture, thankful to see another familiar face.

"It's good to see you too, Quorra," Mira replied. Quorra stepped back and grinned when she noticed Beck.

"And you must be the infamous Renegade I've heard so much about." Beck frowned at the term. "Don't worry, the Creator was watching over you. He said that you were more than just a program."

This time it was Mira's turn to frown. She remembered that dream she had, before she had woken up from that coma. The Creator, Kevin Flynn, had spoken to her. Did that mean... he was dead? She glanced at Quorra, whose expression was impossible to read.

"So what have you been up to since we parted ways?" Quorra asked when they all sat down.

For what felt like the umpteenth time, Mira explained what had happened since they parted. Quorra leaned forward and took it all in, eyes widening when Mira explained how Tron was still alive. By the time she was finished, Mira was out of breath.

"Wow... that's a lot to take in," Quorra finally murmured.

"It's been difficult. But... at least I'm not alone." Mira glanced at Beck, who looked more embarrassed than anything else.

"You have no idea." Quorra's eyes lit up when she glanced at Beck. "The project Sam and I have been working on has something to do with the Grid," she added. "Sam's really taken on to his father's idea. He wants to recreate the Grid."

Mira looked at Quorra in disbelief. Had the Grid been destroyed since they last saw it? Judging by the look Quorra gave her, she was right.

"Is that possible?" Beck asked.

"Sam has everything from the Grid saved on a data chip," Quorra explained. "That's why Director Fury wanted to keep an eye on him. He's trying to reassure your friends that this version of the Grid won't be as dangerous."

Does she know the truth? Mira looked down at the floor. Maybe Sam hadn't been around when that news was leaked. Or he had completely forgotten about it. Either way, she had a feeling Quorra wouldn't be too pleased if she knew what had really happened.

"So how exactly did you meet the Creator?" Mira asked when an awkward silence filled the room.

Quorra frowned before telling them her story. "After you left, I decided to go and see if there were any ISOs left after the Purge," she began. "I found Ada, and we started traveling the cities together. When we reached Bismuth, Ada vanished... it wasn't until I ran that I learned she was derezzed."

Shivers ran down Mira's arms. Clu had killed so many programs during the Purge. He didn't care whether or not they were on his side. All that mattered to him was perfection.

"Wait, did you by chance meet someone named Paige?" Mira looked at Beck in surprise when he mentioned the old commander's name. Quorra's eyes widened with recognition.

"Yes, we did meet her," she replied. "Before the hospital she worked at was destroyed."

Mira smiled as she remembered helping Paige from derezzing. The commander had finally turned to the right side, when she learned that Tesler had been lying to her this entire time. She wondered how Paige was doing before Sam moved all of the files.

"I'm glad you're alright," she murmured after looking back up at Quorra. The ISO somehow seemed taller in the User world than on the Grid. But maybe that was because it had been so long since she last saw Quorra.

"Me too." The door quickly swung open, Sam stepping inside with a frown, followed by Clint and Natasha.

"Time to go." Mira raised an eyebrow when she caught Quorra's surprised look. "We've got a bit of a problem at HQ," Clint added after noticing Mira's confused look.

And by a bit, you mean a big problem, Mira thought with a roll of her eyes. Natasha looked back at Sam, who placed what Mira guessed was the data chip on his desk.

"Keep an eye on that chip," Natasha warned him. "Others might try using it for their own purpose." Quorra stiffened at the mention of 'purpose'. Sam gave her a reassuring look before nodding at the idea.

Mira quickly followed them out of the room, eager to get away now that she knew Quorra was safe and sound. Hopefully Sam would keep her safe, like the Creator had for so many cycles on the Grid. Mira had a feeling that Quorra was somehow tied in to the whole issues with Cyrus.

"Let me guess, Cyrus escaped?" Natasha stopped dead when Mira finally spoke up. She almost wished that were the case. But something told her that this was more serious than Cyrus escaping.

"Something like that," Clint replied after exchanging looks with Natasha.

She really hoped her original thoughts were the case. Otherwise they were getting themselves into something they had not trained for.

. . .

It was close to midnight by the time they reached the hellicarrier. Mira was getting sick of this floating headquarters. She never thought that she'd actually miss living in Stark Tower. But at this point, she knew better than to say that out loud.

The few agents that were awake scrambled to their posts as Director Fury called for a team debriefing. Whatever that meant. As far as Mira was concerned, this was just another excuse to discuss what was happening with Cyrus.

"Cyrus is still in his prison, in case you're wondering," Director Fury said before Mira or Beck could ask. "But we've got a bigger problem on our hands, one that involves the Grid."

Mira glanced at the screen he'd pulled up. Tony, Bruce and Steve had joined them shortly before the meeting began. Mira folded her arms and leaned against the back of her seat, sitting beside Natasha while Beck sat beside Clint.

"Do you recognize this face?" He zoomed in on an image he'd pulled out.

The suit wasn't there, but the face, short-cut hair was. Mira's teeth ground together as she glared at the program.

"Pavel." Beck looked like he was ready to slam a fist into the screen. That good-for-nothing program couldn't have found his way to the User world. There was no possible way he could have found a Portal.

"I had a feeling you would know him," Director Fury sighed. "He's been causing problems throughout the city. Not as dangerous as Cyrus, but close to him. He's already managed to kill a few people that were in his way."

Mira threw her hands in the air after realizing that Pavel really was as deranged as Cyrus. Maybe even worse. "Great, now we have this nutcase to worry about," she muttered crossly.

"What did he do on the Grid?" Natasha asked. Her voice was calm, but Mira didn't miss the worry in her eyes. First Cyrus and now Pavel. How many other programs had gotten through those Portals?

"Pavel was General Tesler's commander," Beck explained. "Enjoys fighting and killing." He narrowed his eyes at the term.

He's definitely gotten the User vocab down, Mira thought with the slightest of smirks. Beck had learned quickly since reaching the User world. So far he hadn't picked up on Tony's colorful language, but she had a feeling it was only a matter of time before he did.

"So basically he's a sadistic killer," Steve replied. "Why start attacking now? What are his motives?"

Silence followed his question. Mira frowned as she thought of what to say. Pavel had likely been given commands to kill anyone that looked familiar. If he was still loyal to Clu, than it was possible he was looking for the Renegade and the Rogue.

"When something like this happens, we need to make a stand and fight back," Director Fury told them. "If Pavel is from the Grid, than that means others have probably followed him." He glanced at Mira and Beck. "You two fought him before, I assume," he added to them.

"Yeah... but that was before he had the weapon upgrade," Beck replied.

Mira wished she could punch him in the shoulders for saying that. The weapon upgrade wasn't meant to be announced to the User world. If a User with the need for power got their hands on it, there was no telling what they could do.

"Weapon upgrade?" Clint raised an eyebrow. Mira shot Beck a glare when he realized what he'd just said.

"It's nothing... just a simple tool that programs use," she quickly explained, hoping they would buy it.

"It sounds like it's more than nothing," Tony said with a smirk. "Sounds like it could actually have a tie with the Super Soldier Project." He glanced at Steve, whose eyes widened as he thought of what that meant.

"Either way, Pavel is a problem the Avengers need to take care of," Director Fury sighed after pinching the bridge of his nose.

"We're going with you," Mira announced when an icy silence filled the room. "Pavel's here because we went through that Portal. If anyone can stop him, it's the Renegade and the Rogue," she added before Clint or Natasha could argue. Beck didn't even bother saying anything against that plan. Obviously he wanted to take down Pavel almost as much as she did.

"Fine, but you'll need to suit up," Steve replied just as Natasha was about to say something. She shot him an icy glare, that was returned with a shrug and a sheepish grin.

Tony suddenly stood up, ignoring the sudden tension that filled the room. "Speaking of suits, there's something I'd like you two to take a look at," he said after brushing off his gray t-shirt.

Relief washed over Mira's shoulders as she followed him to the lab. Director Fury had given Tony and Bruce permission to work on whatever project they had been working on at the tower. From what it sounded like, they were finished.

The lab inside wasn't nearly as large as Tony's lab. But it did have an impressive amount of equipment inside. Mira grinned when she spotted Fitz and Simmons arguing over a new device they were developing. They didn't seem like the typical, secretive SHIELD agents she had seen wandering through these halls. They were strangely friendly and welcoming at first glance.

"Thanks to that little tool of yours, we were able to finish that project Brucie and I were working on," Tony explained as he reached a table with objects scattered across it. "I thought you two might appreciate these." He grabbed the first object he noticed and tossed it over.

Mira caught it and stared at the device in surprise. It was a helmet, like the ones programs used on the Grid. Only it was sleeker and lighter.

"Go ahead and try it on." Mira bit the bottom of her lip as she tried it on for the first time. Perfect fit. She wondered when Tony or Bruce had guessed her size. "There should be a button on the right, by your ear," Tony added after a few seconds had passed.

She jumped after pressing the button. The helmet concealed her face, but she could see clearly through the screen. What looked like a program's suit wrapped around her body, covering her arms and legs. She smirked when she noticed the 'R' symbol from her previous suit.

"How did you know?" Even the circuit designs were accurate. True he had seen their appearance on the Grid, but that had all happened so quickly she would have thought he would forget.

"Beck was the one that had the design ideas," Tony replied with a wide grin.

She finally turned to see that Beck's suit was almost exactly like his old one. Only the 'T' symbol on his chest was still there. She had to admit that the suit looked good on him. But of course, she wasn't willing to say that out loud.

"Thank you. You didn't have to make these," Mira sighed after her helmet receded. Just like the Grid's suits. She wondered how Tony managed to get every detail right.

"Oh, that's not even the best part," Tony added. "We've got these. Thought you might make use out of them." Mira's eyes widened when he grabbed what looked like identity disks. They weren't exact copies, but they were close enough to the real thing.

Amazingly detailed, she thought when they even whirred to life.

"Those disks are programmed to return to their owner's helmets," Bruce explained after stepping inside. "You shouldn't have any trouble using them."

"Has anyone ever said that you guys are amazing?" These tools really were just like being on the Grid. Now she and Beck might actually stand a chance against Pavel. If he didn't have the weapon upgrade, that was.

Tony's expression was almost priceless. Bruce just shrugged and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Out of the corner of her eye, Mira noticed that Fitz and Simmons were watching them with fascination. She wondered how often they got to watch a couple of genius's working like this.

"Now we're ready to take on Pavel," Beck said after his helmet receded.

Mira couldn't help but nod in agreement. Pavel was going to be in for a nasty surprise.

AN: Yep, I totally went there. And don't worry, it's not the last time we'll be seeing Quorra. Hopefully this chapter was okay; I feel like I really rushed through it. If worse comes to worse, I'll rewrite everything later on. Thanks to 2theSky and PrincessKai317 for reviewing! You guys are awesome! :D

End of Line