Chapter 19

Sage waited no longer. As he stood up, the hum of the Recognizer still loomed in the air. He moved fast making his way to the front of the stage. The vast crowd of programs bustled with confusion, intrigue, and even anger. The young Defender steadied his adrenaline driven excitement.

"Programs, what more will it take? What more is required before peace is restored?" Sage stood firm. "The Disciples have only oppressed us and allowed only those who don't challenge their ways to thrive. Ways that persecute our beliefs. You have been forced to deny your beliefs in order to save your lives. No more! No more hiding, no more denying yourself, action is the key to reviving our way of life." Murmurs and waves of excitement streaked through the crowd. Pockets of programs even began to accept it. At this display of revolution, the five leftover guards advanced on Sage.

"That's enough program," declared the guard advancing from ahead. Two more approached him from the sides and seized him. Their grips clamped around his arms. Sage fought to break free only to suddenly feel a shock strike him from behind. As he grunted, his legs gave out on him. The crowds of programs reacted in anger. A small group of them actually mustered their courage and stormed the stage. More armed guards converged on the unarmed programs. An uproar went out from the revolting programs as they attempted to strike the guards. Sage used the guard's confusion and swept the legs out from his captors. The attack of the programs was courageous, but was futile against the collective forces of the Disciples. As the struggle grew, suddenly a streak of bright white light surged from the midst of the crowd. The disc curved wide onto the stage, striking guards in a procession. Another figure ran out and leapt from the crowd onto the stage. He caught the disc in one hand and stood up straight. This figure was much like the persona Aaron Flynn had arrived in. His grey octagonal irises narrowed on the guards as his mask covered only from his nose down. Sage watched wide eyed with a grin.

"Dep," he whispered. Two guards flanked on Dep. One swung at him with a lit baton. Dep jumped over the attack, landing low behind the guard. He swiped his disc on the guard's shin. As he spun to confront the next, the guard shattered into orange crystalline bits. The next guard lunged at him with a double-edged baton. Dep used his disc trap the baton. He spun his wrist and used the leverage to strike the guard with the other end. As he too shattered, Dep stood up again. All around him, guards had been overpowered by the programs who now stood with claimed discs and batons. Sage stood up and approached the great warrior.

"Thank you, Sir." He grunted.

"Well done Defender." Dep stood up before the restless crowds. He pulled away his hood and allowed the mask to drop away. As Dep's likeness fell upon the crowd of programs, shock and awe erupted from the crowd. Murmurs and whispers carried the name of both Flynn and Dep.

"Daniel Flynn, he's returned!" One such program exclaimed. The declaration sent an even more furious wave of murmurs. Dep raised his open palm up to the gathered programs.

"No," he belted over the crowd. The murmurs ceased, giving Dep focus. "Daniel Flynn was, as he was to us all, my user. I am merely like you; a program." Dep gazed over the faces of the programs. They were listening, all of them. "A program that tires of these Disciples!" he shouted intensely. "A program that has devoted his existence in fighting the Disciples, like so many of you had before," he boldly outstretched his hand over the crowd, nearly drawing them in through his words. He paused and breathed heavily trying to quell anticipation boiling in him. "Do you want to be free?" he belted. Few in the crowd muttered a reply just louder than a whisper. "Do you want your freedom!" Dep called out again.

"Yes," a collection from the crowd said.

"Do you want your freedom!" Dep shouted.

"Yes," the reply grew in strength.

"Do you want your freedom!"

"Yes!"

"Do you want your freedom!"

"YES!" the boom of thunderous voices nearly shook the earth. Programs stirred uncontrollably from the gathering. Off to the side on the stage, Sage watched in awe. The sight was inspiring. Light, not just from the circuitry of their suits, but in their hearts and spirits burned brightly. Warriors, broken cycles ago found their cause again.

"Then fight! Fight for your user!" Cheers and roars bellowed from the reinvigorated programs. The hum of engines contended in the air, nearly drowned out by the strength of the programs. Behind the gathering, a Light Tank positioned itself to block the black street. The top half of the craft rotated, directing the large barrel at the crowds. Dep reached again for his disc which he ignited in his hand.

"Sage, disc out!" he called out. The young Defender did as told, stepping up next to him with his disc at the ready. "Count of three." He said. "One;" Sage saw Dep's focus on the tank. "Two;" Sage too zeroed his focus on the vehicle. "Three!" The both of them leapt into the air, throwing their weight to make them spin sideways. After one revolution, they redirected their center of gravity to follow the maneuver with a back flip, heaving their discs along with their flips. As the both of them landed facing the opposite direction, the super charged discs soared into the tank. The craft emitted into a splash of light, derrezing it away. The discs returned faithfully to the two Defenders as they charged through the crowd, leading the push of the angered programs.