AN: I was bored so I decided to do a fast update. Thanks to Ridyr, QueenOfDreams and beafstew for reviewing! Sorry beafstew if it sounds similar to your story, but I'm following the episodes as well. Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter Four
The disk games was something that Mira had honed her abilities in. She was lithe and agile, able to dodge most blows from any angle. But there were a few problems. One of those problems was that she got easily distracted, especially when it came to her surroundings. Another was that she didn't trust her allies too much.
Her fists clenched together as Mira watched Tron and Beck duke it out in a duel. Their fighting stances reminded her of the way Beck had fought Bodhi back in Argon city. Tron wasn't going to take it easy on the young program either as she was about to find out. Tron gave little warning as to what his next move was as he lunged forward, swinging his arm just above Beck's chest. Once he had Beck pinned to the ground that was the end of it.
"I guess that's why they called you the security monitor," Mira laughed when Beck leaped to his feet. "Wanna try me next?"
"No thanks, once is enough." Beck glared at her before he looked back at Tron.
"Time to take on the light cycle course," he said with a wave of his hand. Mira tilted her head to one side and wondered if he was going to let her join them. The last time he'd let her on the course nearly resulted in Tron getting derezzed. "You're welcome to join us Mira, but try to keep the excitement at a minimum," he added over his shoulder.
She grinned to herself before she ran after them. She was surprised by the amount of excitement that coursed through her as she followed them out of the safe house. This was just the kind of excitement she needed in order to get her adrenaline pumping. Once her baton was rezzed she sped forward and gave Tron and Beck time to observe each others moves.
She sped around ramps and hills before coming to a halt to watch the pair of programs.
Beck was skilled with his light cycle, but Tron made him look like a two year old was driving it. "Don't rely on your light trail!" She heard Tron call out.
Once they caught up she jumped the ramp and landed between them, nearly knocking Beck off of his light cycle. He cried out in surprise before she grinned and sped off without using her light ribbon. Mira looked at the gorge that stretched before her.
"Jump," she suddenly shouted.
"Jump?" Beck glanced at her in confusion before she sped around the ramp, reeling it around until she managed to cross the gorge. A tiny river could be made out between the two cliffs, and she knew getting trapped down there would mean certain death. "We can't make that!" Beck had pulled the breaks on his light cycle, but Tron kept going. Mira would have cheered if it wasn't for the situation when he landed neatly beside her, sending a cloud of snow into her face in the process.
Beck rezzed his engine once more and sped forward until his light cycle was off the ground. With a gasp he turned the light cycle back into a baton and nearly missed the cliff's edge. Mira was about to reach out for him when Tron did and pulled him up.
"You know what you did wrong?" Tron asked.
"Yeah, I followed you." Beck's reply earned a smirk from Mira, but she didn't show it to Tron.
"You hesitated. If you hesitate before making a final decision it ends in defeat." Tron leaned against his light cycle and looked back at Mira, who just stood there and listened to them talk.
She was content with just watching them. Beck reminded her of Tron, if that was even possible. He was unsure of what his capability was, making him nervous around any training. He wasn't acting the way he had when they blew up Clu's head. Maybe being around a legend had made Beck lose all of his confidence.
"How can I be the next Tron if I can't even keep up with the real one? No one's going to believe I'm you. To them I'm just another renegade program."
"You need to have faith in yourself," Tron tried to reassure him. Mira shrugged and thought that sounded strange coming from someone who was programmed to defend the Grid.
"Easy for you to say, you were programmed to save the Grid. I'm just a mechanic." Beck seemed to have read her thoughts as he looked at Tron.
"You're more than just a mechanic, Beck. You surpassed your programming; you stood up for what you believed in." Tron was becoming more serious now as he folded his arms and focused on Beck. Mira wanted to cut in that Beck had saved her twice already, but she knew now wasn't the time. "You did all of that on your own. The uprising needs a hero."
"What uprising?" Beck waved his arms in exasperation. "It's just the three of us out here." Mira forced back a blush when he included her.
Sure, why not include the corny typical teenage girl with typical teenage girl problems, she thought bitterly. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about herself. Beck was beginning to show doubt in his abilities, and she knew that he needed to understand just how much he was needed.
"Aren't you the one who said others would follow? That the revolution would spread if we ignite the spark?" Now it sounded like Tron was getting desperate. His sharp-eyed look told Mira that she'd better not cut in.
Beck made a tiny coughing sound before shaking his head in reply, "So you're listening to me now? I almost plunged into the bottom of a canyon. I don't think I'm cut out to inspire anyone."
He began to walk away when Tron stood up and narrowed his eyes. "Beck, your baton. You should probably get that."
"Ahem, I think I'm going to scout ahead," Mira called out and sped off before Tron could argue.
She wasn't about to let Beck get away with leaving. He was definitely the hero that the uprising needed. Convincing him shouldn't be that difficult, she was able to do so when he was about to blow up Clu's head.
Mira wasn't surprised to see Beck already ahead as he headed for Argon. She wondered if she could get away with returning to Able's garage. Tron had sounded serious when he told her that she should stay with him. Yet she'd survived this long without his guidance or training. It was all about learning from one's mistakes, as she had heard from Castor once.
"Hey, Beck!" She called out to the program and he slowed down.
"Shouldn't you be with Tron?" he asked.
"You looked like you needed some company," she replied with a grin. "So what, you're giving up already? You only just started your training."
"Look, I know that I have, but... I'm not-" Mira cut him off with a groan of annoyance.
"Come on, you saved me twice already. Don't tell me any basic program can't do that," she told him.
Beck looked at her as if she'd grown wings. Then he shook his head and sped ahead. Mira glared at his back before she followed suit. She was about to say something else when a recognizer suddenly found them. Her eyes widened in panic when a light beamed down on Beck's light cycle.
"Halt programs. You're in violation of curfew." Mira's grip tightened on her handles and Beck sighed in annoyance.
"This day just gets better and better," he grumbled.
"Identify." One of the black guards slammed a staff to the ground.
"Beck..." He suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and rolled to the ground. The light cycles returned to their baton state as both of them began to run towards the empty train cars. The guards were searching for them now, using any source of light they had to find the renegades. Beck placed a hand over Mira's mouth and gave her a warning look.
"In here." He suddenly opened the door of a car and shoved her inside. Mira was about to bite his hand in self-defense when he took a startled step back. "Please tell me you're hiding too."
Mira followed his gaze and saw that there were six programs in the car. They were sitting on either side of the benches and looked as though they'd seen better days. Mira groaned in dismay when the car suddenly shook.
"Proceed with transport," a female voice boomed around them.
"What do they mean by transport?" Mira whispered. Beck only shook his head as one of the programs rose from their seat.
Mira gasped when she recognized the program as Cutler, someone she had met in Tron city. Cutler had been good friends with the ISOs, especially Quorra. When Clu attacked the ISOs during the purge Cutler had fought back, but Mira never heard from him since. His skin was a dark ebony color that blended in well when he was trying to hide out from enemies. His expression was hardened as he looked down at Beck, who shielded Mira from his sight.
"Congratulations programs. You've just made yourselves prisoners." His voice was cold and dark as he began to notice Mira lurching behind Beck. "Mira." He whispered the name and she flinched as though a disk had been thrown at her stomach. "I haven't seen you in cycles."
"You know each other?" Beck asked.
"This is wrong, I shouldn't be here! I didn't do anything; it's all because of the renegades!" Mira was saved from answering when another program began to cry out in fear.
"Cool it Rilo," Cutler snapped.
"Have you forgotten where they're taking us? Each one of us is going to end up getting derezzed. Have you ever seen anyone get derezzed? It's disgusting!" The program shook his fists before burying his face in his hands.
"What's he talking about? Where are we going?" This time Beck was the one who sounded worried, though Mira had an eerie feeling as to where they were going already. Her fists tightened when Cutler stared out of the tiny window.
"There." Mira followed his gaze and saw a round looking building loom ahead of them. Brilliant flashes of green, orange and blue gleamed in the distance as the crowd began to cheer upon their arrival.
"The games," she whispered. "Users, this can't be happening!" She cried out before she began to pace.
"Has this happened to you before?" Beck asked. Cutler only looked more curious than worried as he listened to them.
"I... may have fought against Rinzler once or twice before," she explained. That made all of the programs look up at her in surprise.
"You fought Rinzler?" Rilo cried out in disbelief.
"Who's Rinzler?" Beck's question earned a glare from both Mira and Cutler.
"Dangerous program. Very, very dangerous. You're lucky to be alive." Cutler's reply made Mira look down in embarrassment.
"Armory five accepted. Welcome to the coliseum." Mira felt her stomach lurch with anxiety and dread when the car was dropped.
A foreboding silence had fallen over the group as they were led out of the car. Mira fell in line behind Rilo, who was trembling out of fear. Once they reached a platform Mira began to relax slightly. This reminded her of the first time she'd been introduced to the games. She was only able to survive because Quorra had rescued her by getting them both out of the light cycle grid.
"Congratulations programs. You have been selected for the games." The voice boomed around them as sirens walked towards them.
"If I don't get through this, the renegade is to blame," Rilo muttered. He was trembling even harder now as Cutler shot him a hard look.
"Rilo I told you that-" Cutler was going to say something but was cut off by the fearful program.
"It's not his fault? The only reason we're here is because the renegade decided to remodel Clu's statue. The next thing I know I'm here because I broke curfew. I lost track of time, I shouldn't have to die because of it!"
When did the curfew start? Mira wondered as she rolled her eyes at Rilo's worrying.
"We'll survive this," Beck said in a reassuring tone. "You're not going to die." He looked at Mira as if he hoped she would agree with her. She only shook her head and waited for the sirens to begin their work.
"For your safety a battle suit has been equipped. Do not attempt to remove your battle armor. Processing complete. Enjoy the games." The sirens stepped back and disappeared into the darkness.
"At least we won't have to face Rinzler," she muttered.
Suddenly the arena stood before them as the platform was moved forward. Mira stood beside Cutler, who seemed equally as impressed with the coliseum's structure. All around them a crowd was cheering. This time it was for deresolution. They wouldn't be satisfied until every opponent was derezzed on the spot.
Mira wasn't surprised when a second platform carried their opponents. Bright red and orange lights gleamed from their circuits as the leader of the group swung his back legs in a fighting stance. Two programs leaped on either platform that rotated on both sides of the arena.
"In the name of our great leader Clu," Tessler paused as the crowd roared in excitement. Mira tensed at the mention of Clu, but she knew there was no point in showing any anger. Only determination and a skilled mind would get her through this now. "Let the games begin!" The crowd went wild as the enemy programs launched themselves onto all platforms. Cutler leapt to the first platform and fought against the leader of the group.
"Stay close to me." Beck's order made Mira roll her eyes before she leaped onto the platform nearest to her. He didn't have the chance to defend her as she prepared herself for her first battle.
She drew out her disk and glared at the program that stood before her. A feral growl sounded from the back of her opponent's throat as he reached for his own disk.
"Ready to dance?" she asked with a smirk.
AN: XD I just love writing when there's nothing better to do. And more about Mira's past with Rinzler will be explained in future chapters. Don't forget to leave some feedback!
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