Cityscape
Xilacycles later…
The house was dark and silent, save for the slow, heavy breathing of the house's inhabitants.
Well, all except one of these inhabitants.
A tuft of brown was visible just behind the couch. It disappeared and small footsteps pitter-pattered across the smooth floor down a hallway. He was the only one in the house awake, but as the city began to wake as well, that statement would not be true for much longer.
The boy's small hand pushed open a door to reveal inside was a bed, where its occupants were resting. His footsteps slowed as he neared the edge of the bed. His fingers gripped the edge.
"Dad." The whisper didn't wake either program, so he tried again, "Dad!"
He continued as Tron rolled over, resting his head next Yori.
"Your son's awake." She murmured, not even bothering to open her eyes.
"Before the start of the cycle, he's your son." Tron rumbled in return.
"Dad!" The young program tried to climb up by clinging onto the blanket, but fell with a thump. Shaking his head, he pulled himself up and landed on his father.
"You promised!"
By now, Tron had opened an eye and turned to see the young boy had corssed his arms and legs, and was giving him a look he could have only earned fro his mother.
"Alright, I'm up."
Instantly, the face shifted from anger to triumph.
"Yeah!" He slipped off the bed as Tron stretched and got to his feet. Yori sat up and watched Tron take his son's hand by the door and lead him out.
Young Beck held his father's hand as they stepped into the elevator. The doors closed and they ascended. When the doors opened again, both could see the dark sky above. Tron let go of Beck's hand and so the young program ran ahead of his father to the edge of the rooftop. Tron followed, and pulled Beck away from the very edge.
"You ready?"
Beck looked up, quickly nodding.
Tron gave a small smile at that, before kneeling next to him and pointing to the horizon, "Watch."
Beck obeyed and turned his head to the horizon as the lights began to brighten. Programs left buildings and began their daily routines across the Grid. None of them looked up to the Monitor and Monitor-to-be on the rooftop, but the two could see each face and each expression that played upon them.
"Look, Beck. Everything you see is under my protection."
"Wow…" Beck gasped.
"My time as Monitor will not be permanent. Once my time ends, your time as a Monitor will begin."
"And I'll be in charge of all of this?"
"Yes, Beck."
"Wow…" He viewed the scene with excitement until a darkness caught his eye. He turned to it, then looked up to his father, "What about that shadowy place?"
"That is the Outlands." Tron's voice grew rough, "You must not go there."
"But I thought a Monitor meant you could go wherever you wanted."
"That is with necessity. There's more to being a Monitor than that."
"There is?"
"Beck…" He shook his head with a chuckle. He picked up his son and set him on his shoulders to give a better view.
"Every program life is worth protecting, whether it be a Basic or ISOs life. TO save as many lives as possible, a peace must be kept. As a Monitor, it will be your job to keep that peace, and do what is best for every program on the Grid."
"Like you and Anon?"
"Exactly like Anon and I."
"Will I get to see Flynn?" Beck looked down to his father at the question.
Tron frowned. Flynn hadn't exactly been present to see Beck. he knew that the ISOs had become a priority to the User and that he wasn't on the Grid very often…but still…
"We'll have to wait and see."
"TRON!"
The door slammed open and Tron turned to see Dyson burst in. His head wound was still very much visible, Tron noted with slight regret. It had been an injury from being in the line of duty, but it also created a bitterness towards the ISOs that hadn't been there before.
"Rogues have been spotted on the border of the city. Near one of the ISO districts."
Tron set Beck back down on the ground. "Dyson, take Beck back downstairs."
"Aw, dad!" Beck called after, "Can I come?"
"No." Is all Tron said back before he disappeared.
Beck slumped and pouted. "He doesn't let me do anything."
"Now, I doubt that." Dyson replied, taking the boy's hand and leading him to the elevator.
"It's true. I can't go anywhere with him."
Dyson rolled his eyes when Beck wasn't looking to him, "Is Yori home?"
"No, she went to work."
"Then you'll just have to come with me, then."