Chapter 20
Aaron felt unusually calm. Even with the encircling escort of the Guards leading him down the shadowy hallway, Aaron felt in control. Nexor led the procession, smiling smugly to himself as he headed them through the minimal orange glow which illuminated only on the foot of the walls and with Aaron's disc gripped tightly in hand. Only the echoes of their foot falls could be heard in the empty hallway. The group of ten reached the end of the hall to a large intricate door, which seemed very little like the décor of the Grid and more like the door of a grand palace. Nexor outstretched his hand, laying his clawed palm firmly on it. The door split down the middle, sliding apart to allow them entry. Through the procession of Guards, Aaron surveyed the room. It was vast and circular in nature. Just as the hallway, the room was deprived of revealing illumination. A strip of orange lighting emitted from the rim of the bend of the room. The most catching details however were the cones of glow which shone on each of the five figures seated in thrones set into the walls. None of the lights however caught Aaron's attention, only the burning, piercing, eerie stares of ten eyes boring in on him. A shiver traveled down his spine, but he didn't dare give them satisfaction. Boldly and confidently, Aaron stared right back. Nexor stopped in the center of the room, dropping to his knee before the Disciples. Aaron was led to a spot off to the left. The Guards forced his feet into the two slots on the floor. Suddenly, orange energy clamps seized his feet. Before he could react any further, a surge of energy launched from the clamps on his feet and seized his wrists. Aaron attempted to fight it, but was then thwarted by the beam of energy retracting, pulling his arms down in front of him. As he stood in the trap, Aaron attempted to break away from its bind. Sniggers and scoffs came from the guttural taunts of the Guards. Aaron composed himself again, controlling his temper.
"Try if you must, user," a droning yet intimidating voice rang through the chamber as Drux taunted from his perch.
"You will only fail," a female's droning voice sounded now. Vyril glared at him with smug satisfaction. Finally, Aaron was relieved from their agonizing stares.
"Nexor," Scylus' hissing drone echoed in the chamber. "Have you his disc?"
"He has," Jekl's droning voice answered instantly.
"Splendid," Vyril hissed maliciously.
"Our mission is nearly complete," declared Avro in a gravely drone. Still on his knees, Nexor bowed his head and presented Aaron's disc gently over his head. Aaron then witnessed a sight never before seen for many cycles. The thrones glided down from their lofty perch on the wall, gently reaching the shadowy floor of the chamber. In sync with each other, the five Disciples rose from their thrones and stepped down. Their long draping robes cascaded around their forms. Scylus gracefully approached Nexor in a haunting manner, extending a long thin fingered hand paler than any Aaron had before seen. Nexor gently placed the disc in his palm. With his other hand, the Disciple clasped down on the disc. He inhaled deeply then released his breath slowly. Aaron grunted out in protest of Scylus' possession. Scylus' head slowly turned to fix his gaze on the user. With hauntingly idle steps, the Disciple approached Aaron in his bound state. His arm slowly raised, sliding away the deep shadow of his hood, revealing a pure bald, white head. Etched on his face were markings resembling digital circuits. Once he was just a few feet away, his eyelids flashed open revealing the black abyss which filled his entire eyeballs.
"Rejoice user, redemption is here."
"With the key, our teacher will be freed," Vyril droned hauntingly. Aaron's mind raced, reflecting on his moment in Flynn's hideout.
"You're going to the Beta Grid," Aaron blurted. Scylus' mouth curled into a grin.
"Returning."
"Fulfilling our covenant," Jekl replied.
"You're going to release the Master Control Program," Aaron said as he quickly unraveled the Disciples' mysterious plot.
"Once sealed, the sanctuary was cut away."
"Need the disc of a user."
"To unlock the seal and set free our teacher."
"Share his divine revelation." Aaron growled over the eerie droning.
"You'll enslave us all," he blurted. Avro, the eldest and wisest of the Disciples stepped forward, closer to Aaron.
"Foolish user, unworthy of enlightenment." He turned away, slowly gliding away to the door. "Come, our teacher awaits." Nexor stood from his kneel.
"My Lords, what do you desire I do of with the user?" Drux gingerly looked from shoulder to shoulder at the other four. Each nodded at him, which he then granted to Nexor.
"Derezzolution." From behind his mask, the program sneered maliciously, waiting as the five robed figures disappeared through the door, accompanied by seven of the guards. Standing in the trap, Aaron listened in the dark as Nexor cackled, circling him. In his clawed hands still rested Aaron's confiscated baton.
"You won't be needing this anymore," taunted as he broke the device in two. The broken baton dissinegrated into blue crystalline bits. Aaron glared back at the evil program, staring right back into his glowing orange eyes.
"No matter what you do to me, you can't stop what's begun today," declared Aaron; defiance pronounced in his words.
"I am going to erase you," Nexor said as he stopped and faced his captive. Nexor then reached back for his own disc and raised it to Aaron's chin. Nexor glowered at him waiting for Aaron's defiance to break. He however, was firm. Aaron glared right back. After a moment, Nexor chuckled.
"You are brave user, I'll give you that. He backed away slowly with his disc still raised and pointing at Aaron; sizzling and glowing in his grip. "My orders are to derezz you here and now. However," he grinned as he threw his disc at Aaron. The disc soared straight to him, rather low. Aaron watched as the object flew just in front of him, missing his legs by an inch, slicing straight into the beam of energy which surged from the clamps on his feet. As the disc arched back to its owner, the energy beams dissipated and the clamps were gone. Steadily, he lifted his feet out of the slots, one at a time. Aaron looked back up at Nexor who's cackle rang through the chamber. The First Chief waved his hand. Motioning for the remaining guard to approach. Obediently, the Guard walked up to his commander. "Disc," he demanded quietly. Without question or hesitation, the Guard retrieved his disc from his back, holding it out for Nexor. Without looking at the Guard, he grasped the disc, activating it in his grip. Aaron watched as Nexor swiftly and suddenly sliced the Guard into derrezolution. With a digitized wail, the Guard exploded into orange crystalline bits again. Nexor cackled again then tossed the disc across the chamber to Aaron. With one hand, Aaron caught it with a snarl on his face.
"That will be the last life you destroy," he barked. Nexor howled with laughter. The program then jumped into a spin, launching his disc at Aaron. The user was ready, rolling away to the side. Nexor followed through with another heave, which Aaron leapt away from, trying to close in the gap between the both of them. Had it not been for the vicious program's orange circuitry lighting, he'd have been impossible to see in the shadowy chamber. Now in the middle of the chamber, Aaron braced himself, as he saw Nexor soar through the air, disc in hand. He dropped down at Aaron's position, slamming down his disc. Aaron held his disc in both hands over his head as he crouched low. The impact of discs sent a wave of pure power surge from the center of the chamber. Nexor was thrown back a step or two before he angrily kicked Aaron in the face. Aaron dropped to the hard floor of the chamber, rolling away further, dazed from the kick. Blood dripped from his face. He quickly regained focus just in time to see Nexor release his disc again. Aaron jumped to his feet, blocking the attack with his own disc. The clash sent sparks as Nexor's disc sailed back and Aaron leapt and spun releasing his own. Nexor saw his attack coming, waving it off with a simple deflection. The disc skimmed past Nexor harmlessly. Aaron charged at his opponent, then leapt in the air. Nexor shifted into a pivot to block an attack, but was too slow. Aaron came down in front of him throwing his fist with one hand, and catching the rebounding disc sailing above his head with the other. Nexor retracted as the punch struck him in the face, recovering just in time to block Aaron's downward slice. Back and forth, the combatants exchanged blows and blocked deadly close quartered slices of each other's discs. This is where Aaron's police combat training shone through and he became grateful for the ambush exercises and counter blade training. Nexor's fury intensified with anger as Aaron continuously bested him in the brawl. He finally seized the opportunity to back flip out of the scrimmage, launching his disc out while in midair. Aaron shifted to the side not fast enough however to avoid contact. The razor sharp edge sizzled through the air, scraping across his chest, drawing another streak of blood. Aaron tumbled to his knees, gripping his wound. Nexor charged at him again, catching his disc and leaping high into the air. He came back down with his disc still sizzling. Aaron grunted as he leapt into a low roll behind the airborne First Chief. Aaron steadied his stance and with a mighty heave, threw his disc. Before reaching the floor, the program shattered into an explosion of crystalline bits. Aaron stood still, crouched low to the floor, shoulders heaving and head low as his heart raced and fought to steady his breathing. After a moment to compose himself, Aaron stood up straight, broad and steady. On the floor in front of him was Nexor's disc, laid in the pile of orange bits. Never again would it erase an innocent life.