Desolation
Hey sorry I haven't replied to anything, but thank you so much for the reviews! They do mean a lot.
Yori had been waiting. There was a frown on her face, and lines of worry framing as well.
Beck and Tron are never this late…
Looking through the window, she gasped as she saw a group coming towards the tower. She started down the stairs and ran out of the tower to meet the group.
"CLU!"
She began to slow, though, as she neared and realized.
"Where's…" She looked up to CLU, "Where are Tron and Beck?"
CLU bowed his head, but didn't answer.
Panic began its way within her, threatening to overtake her.
"CLU…." She gripped his robes, trying to stop her shaking, "Where are they? Where are my husband and son?"
"I'm sorry, Yori." He said finally, "There was an infestation near the gorge. Tron and Beck got caught in the stampede. They tried to get out but…"
"No." Yori shook her head, tears brimming, "No, you're lying."
CLU simply bowed his head and passed by.
"Yori?" One program approached, "What's wrong_"
She collapsed into the female program's arms, sobbing. Paige had neared, stopping only to watch CLU pass, before reaching Yori.
Moments later, the screens flickered to life and the whole city paused.
"Programs, I have grave news. As some of you may know, an infestation of Gridbugs had been drawn out, and had stampeded into the Outlands. Unfortunately…" He paused, as if it troubled him, then continued, "Unfortunately, we have lost two brave programs in this event. Tron and young Beck…their cubes were found after the stampede had passed."
Gasps rose. Yori fell to her knees. Paige knelt next to her, holding her hand as tears silently slid down her face.
"Anon had been critically injured in the event, but will manage to recover. Flynn…the inconstant, distant User, has disappeared. We are alone."
Murmuring began to rise.
"It is now, with grief in my core, that I take control."
Paige looked up as rogues, now dressed in red, surrounded the area.
"Together, we will rush in a new era. One of glory. Of perfection. We will become great; from the ashes we will rise!"
A cloaked figure could see the scene from the Outlands. His weary face was stained with tears.
Tron was dead.
Beck was dead.
He couldn't go back now.
There was no hope left for the Grid, now.
With a sigh, Flynn turned away, walked into the Outlands, and disappeared.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Outlands, a company truck rumbled through the snow.
Behind the wheel, an older program sat. His eyes scan the horizon, watching.
"WAIT!"
The voice startled him and his foot slammed on the brake.
A young program with blue hair suddenly appeared at his side, pointing out the windshield.
"What is that?"
The older program peered through the windshield. Frowning, he unbuckled and opened the door. Before he could close the door, three younger programs stepped out and ran to the form on the ground, kneeling next to it.
"What is it?" One of the other programs, a male with red secondary circuits leaned over it.
"Stay back!" The older program called, catching up, "You don't know what that is."
"Oh…Abel!" The third called, the boy with mint green secondary circuits, "It's a program. They're still alive!"
Frowning, Abel approached and looked over them.
The program was still. Judging by their size, he guessed they were young, about as young as the programs with him. However, they looked near derezzed. The face was sunken in, and the circuit color had disappeared into nothing.
He blinked rapidly as Mara tugged his arm.
"Is he going to derezz?"
He….
"Not if we can help it."
He stepped through and lifted the program. He was hot to the touch, but Abel held him anyways.
"Bohdi, Zed, go open the back. Mara, situated a place for me to lay him down."
The three nodded and ran off. He followed, making sure the program was safe.
When he got to the truck, Mara was waiting for him. He climbed in and laid the program where Mara led them to. The program didn't stir. Abel turned and pulled out vials of energy and a cloth. He we the cloth and placed it on the program's forehead.
"Keep an eye on him. If anything happens, let me know."
"Yes Abel." The trio said in near unison. Abel nodded and closed the doors before starting off again.