AN: So I finally decided to post this after a couple of weeks break. I didn't realize that I was spelling Tesler's name wrong throughout the story, so it was fixed in this chapter. And this is probably one of my favorite chapters by the way. Oh, and did I forget to mention that I have a Tron/Avengers fic up now? Go check it out, but be warned, it probably isn't going to be very good since it's my first one... Anyways thanks to PrincessKai317 and Sunofaia for reviewing!

Chapter Twenty-One

The program was running from guards as a warning siren sounded. Mira watched with interest as she fled towards a bridge. The guards were on high alert now with more programs breaking curfew. If she stayed out any longer she would be caught as well.

Fortunately she was hiding at the top of a building. The program had climbed to the top of the bridge after being surrounded by the guards. Mira's eyes widened when she realized that the program was being followed by one of the guards. He waited for her at the top of the bridge, where the program let out a surprised yelp.

"They sure know how to surprise programs," Mira said when the program punched the off of the rails.

"Yeah, and if we don't stop them those programs will be sent to the games," Beck added when he joined her.

"So I'm guessing this was the 'mission' Tron assigned us to?" There was an edge to her voice when she mentioned the mission.

Ever since Tron had attacked Dyson she was wary of him. Beck had noticed the tension building between them and tried avoiding the conflict. But she knew it was only a matter of time before he too snapped. Mira was just thankful to get out of the safehouse and away from the security program. Even if Tron was watching them now she felt a little safer.

"Time to go." Beck jumped down the building and ran down the stairs that were along the edge. He was wearing his disguise, while Mira wore her 'renegade' disguise. The program had fallen into what looked like a pit created by the staffs the guards used.

Where have I seen that before? Mira wondered when she followed him. Beck was given a staff before they left the safehouse. It was longer than Mira's light sword, and had the power to drop the floor beneath a program's feet.

She didn't have time to ponder over it when they reached the recognizer the captured program was led to. Mira climbed to the top after Beck took the lead.

"You're too late!" Beck's shout made the guards look up in surprise. He jumped down from the recognizer and landed on the platform in front of them. "Now come on, let's just talk about this." Mira rolled her eyes at the smugness in his voice. Beck was handling the guards, which left her time to free the captured programs.

She went inside to see that they were all lined up in a row. Most of them were programs that must have had jobs or some kind of life. They looked up in surprise when she freed them.

"The renegade," one of the programs announced.

Beck had used his staff to trap the guards in a hole after Mira led the programs out. She grinned sheepishly when they lined up in front of them.

"Thank you!" another program sighed in relief when Beck freed them from their cuffs.

"You've all heard about Tron, right?" Beck stood beside Mira as she eyed the last program to be caught. She would have made a good renegade if she was faster. She was staring at Beck hopefully as he freed her last.

"How can we thank you?" she asked after rubbing her wrists.

"Next time, don't get caught," Mira told her. "And remember."

Before the program could ask what she meant by that, Mira turned around and rezzed her light cycle. Beck followed soon after the program shouted something. Mira guessed she was trying to figure out what Mira meant by 'remember'.

"That went well," Beck said when they made their way back to the Outlands.

"So the staff worked I'm assuming?" Mira eyed the staff curiously. Beck gave her a sheepish grin before speeding forward.

Mira sped forward until they reached the safehouse. For the most part their mission was a huge success. The guards had been caught off-guard thanks to Beck's quick thinking. And thanks to them several programs were freed from the games.

So this is what it feels like to be a hero, Mira thought as she followed Beck into the safehouse.

Tron was waiting for them as usual beside the panels that overlooked the Outlands. Mira stiffened when she walked into the room. She tried to hide the growing unease, but it was difficult when he seemed to know every move she was about to make.

"You both did well," Tron told them when Beck explained what had happened. "Now that more programs know what you're fighting for more will join the cause."

"So does this mean we get a break?" Mira was surprised by how wary she sounded. Tron looked at her in surprise before shaking his head.

"Tesler will be rounding up more programs for the games," he explained. "He's already sent trains to capture programs that have broken curfew or any laws that Clu invoked."

"Maybe it's time we showed them that it's worth fighting back," Beck spoke up.

"So I'm guessing that's a no." Mira folded her arms and glared when she realized that she was being ignored.

"I've gotta get back to work before Able finds out I'm gone," Beck suddenly announced. He glanced at Mira nervously before backing away. She rolled her eyes and tried to ignore the annoyance that flared within her.

Silence filled the room as soon as Beck left. Tron went back to the healing chamber after realizing that Mira wasn't about to speak anytime soon. The last thing she wanted was to talk. She knew that if she did it would end in an argument.

Suddenly Mira wished that she was back in the safe place near the Outlands again. At least there she didn't have someone looking down at her all of the time. And she had the freedom to leave when she wanted to. She missed the cycles when she would chat with Quorra or explore cities.

But that's in the past, she reminded herself. And now she needed to think of the future, or at least think of what to do while she waited for the next mission or training exercise.

Mira made her way up the stairs and decided that rest was her best option. Maybe when Beck returned she could go back to the city.

. . .

Mira was startled from her nap when the door to the safehouse swung open. She made her way down the stairs to see that Tron was still in the healing chamber. Beck was sitting at the edge of a table, looking more annoyed than usual.

"What do you mean you have no choice?" Tron demanded when Beck sighed in frustration.

"I need to free those programs before the end of the cycle, or they'll be sent to the games. It's my fault they were captured again."

Mira's eyes widened when she realized that Tesler must have captured the programs they rescued. Her fists clenched as she thought of how Tesler knew which programs to target. Either those programs were really stupid or Tessler was really smart.

"He's baiting you Beck," Tron snapped.

"Maybe I can free them before the fight." Tron looked at Mira in surprise, but she avoided his gaze. "While you're getting ready to fight Tesler I can free the programs that were captured," she explained.

Beck stared at Mira in surprise before he shrugged. It sounded like a good idea in her mind. She could free the programs before the fight took place. Then Beck would have no reason to fight Tesler in the first place. But she doubted Tron would agree, especially if it meant risking getting caught.

As if he had read her mind Tron shook his head doubtfully.

"Beck can free the prisoners before the fight takes place," he explained.

So what was the point of including me in this conversation? Mira wondered as she kicked the floor with her boot. "So what exactly can I do?" she asked out loud.

"Just stand around and do nothing," Beck suggested with a grin. Mira would have punched him for that, but she held back. He was only joking and trying to lighten the mood. Tron gave Beck an amused look before looking back at Mira, who avoided his gaze.

"You can go with him, but come back as soon as he's finished."

Eventually Mira sighed in defeat and nodded. At least she could do something to pass the time. Better than spending her time with Tron.

Once everything was settled she followed Beck out of the safehouse. She was thankful to leave behind the tension and just cruise along the Outlands. It reminded her of the old days before Tron had found her. Just being able to do what she wanted without having someone giving her orders.

"I need to stop by the garage first," Beck told her as she fell in beside him. "Able's going to kill me for skipping out on work again," he added under his breath.

"Does he even know what you're doing?" Mira knew what the answer would be, but she couldn't resist asking. Able seemed like a wise program who would know exactly what his employees were up to.

"Doubtful," Beck replied.

It didn't take them long to reach the garage. Programs were hanging outside or chatting about the big fight that Tessler had promised. Mira waited near the entrance while Beck wandered inside. A mask hid her face from curious onlookers as she leaned against the wall. She wasn't wearing her 'renegade' disguise, just a normal suit with blue and white circuits. Fortunately no program stopped and asked who she was.

Nanocycles seemed to pass before Mira began pacing along the garage's entrance. Beck was taking longer than she expected. Part of her wondered if he had gone off on his own, leaving her behind. Then she reminded herself that this was the only way into the garage, at least the only one she knew of.

After the next few nanocycles passed, Mira shrugged and walked inside. She was getting wary of waiting so long. By now guards were beginning to approach the garage as the time for the battle drew closer.

Mira wasn't surprised to see Mara and Zed among the programs working in the garage. She spotted Able talking with two other programs that were working on a truck. Mira stopped when she saw that Beck was working alongside Zed.

"Hey Beck, I heard Able came down hard on you," Mara announced when she approached them.

Beck groaned in annoyance and was about to say something in response when he spotted Mira. His eyes widened when Zed pulled out from under the light cycle.

"Wait, you heard? Who else knows?" Beck's voice was filled with annoyance. Mira folded her arms as she listened to them. Obviously Able had punished Beck for getting back late.

"Well... everyone," Mara replied hesitantly.

"I don't believe it." Mira restrained a laugh as Beck sighed in frustration.

"Me neither," Zed said once he stood up. "No offense to Beck, but you'd think everyone would be talking about the renegades' surrender!"

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Mara stared at Zed in surprise when he rolled his eyes.

"I thought I just said it!" he muttered. "Who are you?" He looked at Mira when he just realized she was standing there.

"I'm a friend of Beck's," she explained. Beck raised an eyebrow and she forced back another fit of laughter. This was just too good to pass.

"Anyways, can I borrow you Zed? I need someone with small, feminine hands," Mara said with a roll of her eyes. By now Mira was struggling to hold back her laughter. Mara had just dissed Zed in front of Beck, and he seemed perfectly okay with it.

"I'm your guy," Zed announced as Mara pulled him away.

By now Mira had lost it. She could barely breathe as she laughed at Zed's sheepish expression.

"Are you done yet?" Beck tried looking at her seriously, but even he was holding back a laugh.

"Okay, so do I even want to know?" Mira asked after finally catching her breath.

"Look, I can't free those programs with Able watching me," he explained. "You're going to have to take my place." Mira's eyes widened in disbelief when she looked back at Able. He was glaring at Beck, but when he looked at Mira his expression changed.

She followed Beck to where the lockers were located as he explained what had happened. Apparently he had run into Abel when he tried getting his counter disk. In response to his reaction Abel had punished him by grounding him to the garage.

"Wait, so you want me to fight Tesler?" Mira's voice was stiff with disbelief. "You do realize that you-know-who will kill you when he finds out."

"I don't have another choice," Beck muttered. "Besides, you've been training for this. I'm sure he'll understand once he sees you fight."

Mira looked down at the floor doubtfully. She wasn't sure if she was ready. Sure she had fought Rinzler, but that was because it was a forced fight. She barely survived those fights and only survived thanks to Quorra's help.

Before she could complain Beck handed her the disk that Tron had given him. She stared at the disk in shock before she took it.

"This better not be, what I think it is." Mira hid the disk from view when she heard Able's voice. She whirled around to see him watching them warily - no - angrily.

"I just needed to get my wrench," Beck explained when he reached into his locker.

"Beck, what ever it is you need to do, it can wait." Able sounded more concerned than angry as he placed a hand on Beck's shoulder. "Get back to work. And you'd better not come back here." He glared at Mira, who simply shrugged in response.

Great, so now I have to take his place, Mira thought as she followed Beck down below. It seemed unreal that she would have to take on Tesler. And what would Tron say if he knew what she was up to? He would know that something was up, especially since she hadn't returned yet.

Once she stepped outside she fumbled around with the disk until it latched with her own. Mira gasped in surprise when her suit was replaced with white.

Okay, this definitely doesn't look right, she thought as she studied the white 'T' mark on her suit. But Beck was right, Tesler didn't ask for Tron. He had asked for the renegade.

She sped off towards Argon square after waiting for the programs to leave the garage. Link had stayed behind to keep an eye on Beck, but she doubted Beck would sit still while she fought Tesler. She was however surprised to see how empty the streets were when she sped through them.

I've gotta make an entrance, Mira reminded herself when she reached for a baton Beck had given her. It was a lightjet, and though she didn't really know how to fly them now would be a good time to learn.

Mira rezzed the lightjet baton and pulled up into the air. She looked down to see that a crowd had gathered around Argon square. Down below she could hear Tesler giving some kind of speech about freedom and perfection, mostly the usual crap programs seemed to fall for.

"Programs of Argon, I appreciate you coming out on such a momentous occasion. It proves that you care about your city. But I can't help noticing the absence of a certain program. Where is the renegade? He doesn't care about you. But let's not dwell on the past. Instead, let's look upon a new era. An era of Clu, of perfection!" Mira's eyes rolled when images of Clu's mask flashed across the screens that surrounded the square.

She floated nearby and spotted the programs Tesler rounded up. Fortunately the female program that had been caught last wasn't among them. She studied Tesler himself and felt her stomach clench.

He was menacing in person. His face held an aura of calm as he studied the crowd that was cheering. Wrapped around his shoulders was an elegant cape that had orange circuits along the edge. Standing on either side were his commanders Paige and Pavel. Neither of them seemed unaware of the lightjet circling the square.

Mira dropped the lightjet until it swerved towards one of the screens. Programs cried out in surprise when she crashed through, forcing back her own gasp as one of the edges cut through her skin. Her teeth ground together when she rolled onto the platform below.

"What did I miss?" Mira stood up and whirled around to gaze up at Tesler, whose eyes had narrowed as he glared at her. "You wanted me, here I am?" Mira was surprised when she heard her own voice. She had disguised it to sound deeper and masculine.

"I see that, you certainly took your time," Tesler replied as he silenced the crowd.

"You got what you want! Now let them go!" Mira stared at the captured programs. All of them looked hopefully at their capture, who waved to one of the guards.

"Normally I don't negotiate with terrorists, but I'm a program of my word." Mira narrowed her eyes at his response. The captured programs were released from their handcuffs, they looked at Mira thankfully before running off.

"And the curfew?" Mira remembered what Beck had said about Tesler's promise in lifting the curfew.

"Now let's not get greedy," Tesler replied in a sneer. "The deal was surrender. I've been waiting far too long for this. The end of the renegade."

"I'm not the renegade," Mira announced as she began to pace. "I'm Tron!" It sounded strange to say his name, especially after the amount of anger she had felt towards him earlier. But it was fitting to face Tessler as Tron in disguise.

"Let's finish this somewhere more, private." There was a sneer to his voice when he said that. Once again Tesler raised his hand. The guards stepped forward and held up what looked like the same staff Beck had used. Mira's eyes widened in alarm when she realized what was about to happen.

She ran towards the crowd, but before she could reach them the floor began to break apart. Mira gasped in panic when she slipped and began falling. She crashed into windows that shattered into pieces. Mira struggled back a cry of pain when she landed where the screen's edge had cut before.

Tesler followed her soon after. His cape seemed to flow in the breeze as he avoided the shards.

"You think those programs are going to stand for you?" Tesler demanded when he reached the bottom. "They follow the law. The state is my law!"

Mira jumped to her feet when Tesler's cape was replaced with what looked like a canon strapped to his arm. Only it was bigger than a regular canon, and his feet had latched to the floor. Her eyes widened in alarm when she realized he was about to pull the trigger. Mira dodged to the side, just barely avoiding a blast from the canon.

Her heart nearly skipped a beat and she had to jump to avoid several blasts at once. Tesler was really giving it all out as she managed to kick him in the face. The general let out a snarl of disgust when he grabbed her by the foot. Mira stared at Tesler in dismay when he threw her into the wall. She forced back a cry as her back was slammed into the wall, leaving a dent in the process.

Users he's tough! she realized when Tesler's arms suddenly shot out. Mira gasped when she realized that he was using extension arms. Cheater! she would have shouted, but that wasn't something Tron would say.

Pain seared through her when Tesler grabbed her mask. She tried fighting back by punching him in the chest, but Tesler simply smirked and threw her into a wall. Her teeth ground together as he used more force. She realized too late that he was trying to break her mask and reveal her identity.

Even getting away from his firm grip was difficult as she felt surges of energy course through her. She tried reaching out for her disk when the sound of an engine suddenly echoed around them.

Mira's eyes widened in disbelief when a light cycle suddenly flew past them. The driver raised up their disk against Tesler's arm extension. The general let out a gasp of shock when the disk cut the extension in half before speeding off.

"How, who?" Tesler's searching gaze reached the driver of the light cycle, who revved their engine in an attempt to scare him off.

"You want this to end? End it!" Mira reached for her disk and fought another gasp of pain. The cut on her arm was beginning to sting more than ever after what Tesler had done to her.

"No, we're finished here." Before Mira could reply to that, Tesler backed away into the platform he'd used to get down. Mira stared in disbelief before she looked back at the driver. The light cycle was already disappearing through the tunnel.

Relief washed over Mira when she realized that the fight was over. She threw out her own light cycle baton and sped off before Tesler's guards could catch her. Luck was on her side this time. She wasn't sure if she would have survived had the stranger not shown up.

Speaking of strangers, who in the Users was that? she wondered as she sped through the streets of the city. It couldn't have been Tron, he wouldn't make such a risky move. Maybe Beck did manage to sneak out of the garage after all. Either way she was saved from getting caught.

Once she was far enough away from the garage she took off the disk that Beck had given her. Most of the programs were still back at the square. That left Mira enough time to get back to the garage before Tron found her. She couldn't wait to see what he would say when that happened. Emphasis on the 'wait' part.

Sure enough when Mira reached the garage she saw that Beck was pacing around. Zed and Mara were working on another tank when Mira approached them.

"Beck!" Mara shouted when he reached them. "Where have you been? Able's been looking all over for you!"

"I heard, I'm avoiding him," Beck explained. Mira smirked when she realized that he did manage to get away from Link.

"Beck, my office, now. Bring your friend with you." Able's voice made Mira jump in surprise. She didn't realize that he was hiding in his office.

Beck groaned when he walked towards the office. Mira could hear Zed and Mara commenting on how they were glad they weren't in his place right now.

"Look, I'm sorry I broke my promise-" Beck tried making an excuse once they sat down in front of Able, but he cut him off.

"Beck, stop. What I'm going to say, I hoped I would never have to say." Beck's eyes widened while Mira shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "How did you two become the renegades?"

Mira stared at Able in disbelief.

"Now don't worry Mira, I haven't told anyone who you are," Able told them when he noticed her stiffen. "I just want to know where you disappeared is all."

She exchanged an anxious look with Beck. Should they tell? Now she wasn't sure whether she could trust Abel. He may have more experience than the both of them, but that didn't mean he was going to keep a secret.

"Wait a minute, it was you!" Mira couldn't believe what she had just said, but it all made sense. "You took on Tesler."

"Now how could an old program like me take on general Tesler?" Able was trying to sound modest as he grinned sheepishly.

"About what I said earlier, I'm sorry," Beck murmured. Mira glanced at him in surprise before shaking her head.

"Forget about it," Able simply told him. "It couldn't have been easy keeping such a secret." He looked more seriously at Mira as an uncomfortable silence fell upon them. "And as for you, where exactly did you go?"

Mira studied the table they sat around before thinking of what to say. Either Able knew that Tron was alive or he was playing them into Tesler's hands. She knew that sooner or later they were going to have to tell the truth.

"You can tell me about it when you're ready," Able suddenly said.

A sigh of relief escaped from Mira's lungs. Able smirked in amusement when the tension faded. He knew that she was safe and alive. And for some reason, it felt as though a huge weight of guilt had been lifted from her shoulders.

Speaking of shoulders, she really needed to get that wound checked out. She glanced at Beck before standing up and stretching.

"I think I should go before you know who bursts a circuit," she announced. Able smirked at the comment, somehow she felt as though he knew who she was talking about. "I'll see you later."

Mira tried not to wince as she rezzed her light cycle and sped off towards the Outlands. The wounds she had received from Rinzler weren't nearly as painful as this one. The edge of the glass must have opened an old wound, or cut deeper than she'd originally thought. It didn't take long to reach the safehouse, and once inside Mira spotted Tron waiting near the panel that overlooked the Outlands.

If she wasn't in so much pain she would have laughed at his expression.

"What in the name of Users were you thinking?" His eyes were like chips of ice when her mask receded.

"Nice to see you too," Mira replied with a roll of her eyes. "I know it was stupid of me to take on Tesler, but we didn't have a choice. Able grounded Beck so I offered to take his place in the fight."

"Able knows?" Tron tilted his head to one side, and Mira rubbed her arm uncomfortably.

"He kind of saved me from Tesler," she admitted. "But I could've taken him if-" Tron cut her off with a glare.

"No, you couldn't have taken him on," he snapped. "You're not getting any training until that heals."

Anger coursed through Mira before she realized that he was only trying to help. If she continued training with such a wound it could become infected, and there were no User hospitals on the Grid. She headed for the stairs before he could think of any other punishments. At least she finally got the break she'd been waiting for.

AN: Yeah, that all happened =D

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