AN: Took me long enough to get this typed up. And it's my longest chapter yet :D Almost three K words long! And yes, Mira is slightly aware of how time works on the Grid, but she doesn't know what the year-base time is. I'm pretty sure a cycle is a month, but not too sure /= Anyways thanks to Ridyr and Sunofaia for reviewing!
Chapter Six
"Mira." Her eyes snapped open when she heard Beck call her name. She glanced at the cell holding him and saw that guards were posted at the entrance.
"Programs, you're being moved to the next round," one of the guards announced.
Oh good, I haven't gotten all of my beauty rest, Mira thought with a roll of her eyes. If the guards had seen her sleeping they would know that she was a User. Four times Beck had saved her life. She glanced at him thankfully before she followed the two guards standing at her cell's entrance.
Handcuffs were placed around her wrists as she was thrown into a line of programs that were being led towards their own demise. Beck and Cutler were in front of her, and she was thankful they couldn't see the amount of frustration she was feeling towards the guards.
"Move faster," one of the guards sneered and jabbed a staff at her. She glared at him as coldly as she could before looking away; she was just in time to hear Beck whisper something to Cutler.
"Tell the program in front of you that Tron lives." His words caught her by surprise. Of course that would cause the guards to panic and search for who had started the rumor. She grinned at the thought as Cutler spread word throughout the line of programs.
"Tron lives? Who told you that?" The program in front came to a halt and was whacked in the ribs with a staff by one of the guards.
"What was that? Who said Tron lives? Who said it?" Several guards studied the line up before grabbing the program in front by the wrist.
"Let's go." Beck suddenly stepped out of the line and ran towards a light cable holding up several pipes. Mira was quick to follow him, though she knew what fate would befall the programs that lingered behind. The guards would likely derez them for stating what they thought was wrong, or in Clu's term imperfect. Beck placed what appeared to be a tool that was used by the mechanics at Able's garage. She recognized it from when he had repaired the light copter. Once it was attached a stream of codes appeared, and he was quick to break in.
Once the transport sequence was started they climbed up the pipes. Beck helped Mira up before they leaped to the building that was under construction.
"You know what will happen if they find out about this," Mira said as they made a run for it.
"You'll get derezzed." Mira's eyes widened when she realized that they had been surrounded. The female program who'd pursued them earlier was among the guards. "Why am I not surprised? You three want to be a team so badly, then so be it." Mira forced back a groan when they were bound together by some kind of unbreakable rope.
Cutler and Beck tried to break the rope as well, but found it was impossible. Mira glared at the female program before they were pushed forward.
She wasn't going to say a word as they were led towards the light cycle grid. This was where she'd last seen Rinzler, the program of her nightmares. If worst came to worst she would have to fight Rinzler again, but at least this time she wasn't alone.
"Beck, I've got a light sword I can use to break this," she whispered so that the female couldn't hear. It was obvious that she had a higher authority than the other guards around her. She must have been what the programs called a commander.
"Keep it subtle, we don't want them to notice," he told her.
She nodded and avoided meeting Cutler's gaze as they were shoved into the light cycle arena. Unsurprisingly the crowd went wild as three light cycles zoomed ahead, using their light ribbons to derez any unsuspecting programs.
Mira reached for her light sword and unsheathed it. The light cycles were gaining speed and headed in their direction. She swung the light sword at the rope, and sighed in relief when it was broken. This caused the crowd to roar wildly as she leaped out of the way. Once Cutler and Beck were free they went to work taking care of their opponents.
Her light sword in hand, Mira ran forward at running speed until she managed to trip the light cycle. It was sent flying across the game grid, sending it's rider into immediate deresolution. Beck and Cutler managed to overpower the other two riders as well. Mira wasn't surprised to see Beck riding one of the light cycles. He grinned at her before breaking and standing up.
This looks kind of corny, Mira thought as they threw their fists in the air at their triumph. She laughed at the feeling of their victory though. It was good to know that her fighting skills impressed the programs that were cheering for them.
Now she wasn't sure what would happen next. All she did know was that it wouldn't end well.
. . .
"General Tessler was quite impressed with the way you three fought." One of Tessler's commanders had ordered the three of them out of their holding cells after they were allowed to rest for a few seconds. Mira narrowed her eyes at him and thought his voice sounded obnoxious. "The crowd rarely gets to see such delicious fighting. He's offered... an impressive award."
Right, and what kind of an award will that be? Mira wondered with a roll of her eyes. Joining Tessler's army or becoming the next Rinzler?
Soon they were led into yet another arena. The platform they stood on was bigger than the smaller ones in their first fight. Sure enough the crowd went wild as the commander rose his arms.
"Programs of Argon, I am pleased to announce that the next round is about to begin!" His announcement seemed to only make the crowd more excited as they waited for what the round would be. "The two winners of this round will receive the ultimate prize. Their freedom." A sly look crossed the commander's face as he glared at Beck and Cutler. Mira returned his glare and reached for her disk.
"Who are we fighting?" she demanded in all of the cold voice she could muster.
"Why, each other of course. And to the death." The program backed away as the ledge he stood on was pulled out.
Mira stiffened and glanced at Beck worriedly. She couldn't fight Cutler even if she wanted to. They'd been through too much to fight to the death.
"They expect us to fight each other?" Beck looked at Cutler.
"Derez each other. That crowd won't be satisfied until one of us is in pieces." Cutler reached for his disk by sheer instinct and looked as though he regretted it.
"We're not going to let that happen," Mira said determinedly. "They can't make us fight."
As if her words had been a cue a wall of energy suddenly surrounded them. Mira felt panic stir within her when the walls had begun to close around them. She didn't like confined spaces, especially when her life was on the line.
"The wall of energy will fall when there are two winners. Fight, or die." This time it was Tessler who spoke up, and Mira's fists clenched together.
Of course they would have to fight. There was no use in defying something that would only end in tragedy.
"We have to fight!" she shouted.
"What, are you crazy?" Cutler looked stunned that she would suggest such a thing. Beck suddenly understood where she was getting at and reached for his disk.
"Two of us have to get out, or there will be no one to carry on the uprising," he explained. "They'll win."
"I'm not going to fight either of you," Cutler shot back.
"Then you'll die a coward," Mira snapped.
Without warning she threw her disk at Cutler, who managed to block the blow with his own disk. He saw what was coming next and ran for the corner of the wall before swinging a disk towards Mira. She dodged each blow before kicking Beck's disk out of her reach.
This is impossible, she thought as she fell to the ground to dodge another throw.
She gasped in shock when Beck managed to pin Cutler in a corner. He was about to deal the final blow when he hesitated a moment too late. Cutler kicked Beck out of the way and sent him landing on the floor. Mira was next to face Cutler as she tried to evade the blade's edge.
What Cutler did next caught Mira by surprise. He threw his disk into the floor of the platform and stood up.
"I forfeit!" he shouted.
Suddenly the crowd went silent before they started booing.
"No forfeits." Tessler's words made Mira wish she could just throw her disk at the screen he was hiding behind. He was like any other coward hiding behind the protection of a screen or his commanders.
"Programs, prepare for immediate deresolution." The female voice seemed to echo around the stadium, sending shivers down Mira's spine.
Beck and Cutler looked like they were ready to burst with frustration as well. Mira glanced at them before glaring back at the screen.
"Programs of Argon, we are not savages." Mira rolled her eyes when Tessler said that. "I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. Two programs will go free, but as for the loser... He will be derezzed in the next cycle at Argon park, bit, by painful bit."
Waves of relief rushed through Mira as she and Beck were led through another hall by two guards. Cutler had stayed where he was until they were led away, and she wondered if he would face his punishment right on the spot. A shudder coursed down her spine at the thought.
"You're free to go." The guards had picked off the handcuffs and tossed them aside. Mira studied the little nicks and dents they'd left on her wrists.
"Cutler!" Beck cried out and shoved one of the guards aside.
"Beck, find Tron!" Mira winced when one of the guards threw a light staff into Cutler's back, sending waves of energy coursing through him. The program fell to the ground and lost the ISO brace that was wrapped around his shoulder. "Don't stop fighting back!" Those were his last words before he was pulled back into one of the holding cells.
Mira suddenly wondered if this really was the last time she would see Cutler. He was a program that she had trusted almost immediately, despite every thrill of alarm that went through her. His courage and ability to fight back no matter what the consequences had inspired her to keep holding on.
"Come on, we'd better get back," Beck said as he reached for the brace.
She sighed and followed him as he reached for a baton that one of the guards had given him. To her surprise and annoyance the guards refused to give her one, so they had to share. Beck was quick to assert his skills at light cycle riding as he sped back towards the city.
"We're going back to the safe house, right?" she asked as he swerved past the park.
"Yeah, though I'm not looking forward to hearing what Tron will say," Beck sighed.
You're telling me, Mira thought with a roll of her eyes. She could only imagine how livid the security monitor would be when he found out they were in the games. She'd noticed how Tron managed to hide his anger, but it was easy to tell when he was worried.
Soon the Outlands came to view as he avoided the garage, which was the vocal point of Argon city. Mira wondered what Able and the others were up to at the moment. She never did ask Beck if Able had asked him where she went. Her eyes widened in surprise when a bridge revealed itself as Beck reached a canyon.
"When did this show up?" she asked.
"I guess it's Tron's way of keeping us from falling to our doom." Beck's voice was hollow with humor. Mira forced back the urge to laugh as she thought of what Tron would say to that.
Almost as soon as they reached the mountains that hid the safe house Mira felt a pull towards them. She was safe from the games for now, but it was only a matter of time before Paige or the other commander found out what she really was.
Once they were inside the room where Mira and Tron had first discussed part of her past she knew who would be waiting. Sure enough the security program was leaning against the desk that overlooked the Outlands. Beck turned the light cycle back into a baton and stared at the ground while Tron raised an eyebrow.
"Do you have any idea what sort of dangers you put yourselves in?" he demanded.
"It was my fault Tron," Mira suddenly replied. Beck looked at her in surprise, though Tron didn't look so shocked. "Beck only followed me to make sure I didn't get in any trouble."
"Going off on your own ensures that your life is in danger."
Mira rolled her eyes and was about to snap that she'd been living on her own for ten years. But she knew that arguing wouldn't get them anywhere. Beck was fumbling around with the brace that Cutler had been wearing before he looked at Tron seriously.
"Cutler was the better fighter, not me," he sighed. "He sacrificed himself so that we could get out."
"Did anyone recognize you?" When Tron looked at Mira she rolled her eyes again and shook her head.
"Cutler recognized me, but he didn't give anything away. We're old friends." She shrugged and wished to leave it at that. Fortunately Tron became focused on their survival of the games, which was miraculous in itself.
"You survived the games with all your limbs in tack. Seems like you made it out okay." There was a hint of concern in his voice that Mira didn't miss.
"He should have won, not me," Beck grumbled. "I wasn't cut out for this whole hero thing. I failed, again"
"Really Beck? You've saved my life four times already and you're still going on about that?" Mira groaned and began to pace as Tron looked at Beck seriously.
"You're friend is being held at the moment, right?" Tron suddenly looked out the window as if to hide the emotions that were becoming more obvious to Mira.
Maybe I'm not the only one hiding a painful past, she thought.
"He'll be derezzed in a cycle," Mira replied.
"Then you haven't failed, yet." Beck looked up in surprise when Tron swung around to face him.
"Can I come with him?" Mira asked when she stood beside Beck.
"You've already had enough excitement for a few microcycles," Tron replied.
"I'll tell him you're safe," Beck whispered when Mira glared.
"Look, I can take care of myself!" she shouted. Her sudden rage caught both Tron and Beck off guard as both programs stared at her. "I've been on my own for the past ten years, or what ever cycles it's been. I know Argon just as well as Beck."
"Which is why you're better off hiding out for the moment." She looked away angrily as Tron placed a hand on her shoulder. If she could she would have shrugged it off, but at the moment it was better not to fight back. "Beck needs to gain confidence, you already have enough." His voice dropped to a whisper so that only she could hear it.
Mira's eyes widened when she realized what he was playing at. Beck was already heading towards the entrance, but she managed to catch up with him before he left.
"Tell Cutler to always keep fighting, no matter what," she told him before returning to Tron's side. Beck grinned at her just as the door closed. Somehow she knew that Tron's plan would work. Beck was already confident in his abilities, he just needed to see that confidence himself.
AN: Have you ever heard the music from How To Train Your Dragon? I highly recommend it, beautiful stuff. Anyways, don't forget to review!
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