Okay, I'm only saying this once for you guys, because you deserve it: I'm sorry. :( I know I've been MIA for about a month and I don't have any real excuse for that (although I could write an entire biography about my past month with over 300 pages, though I probably won't do that). But anyway, here's the long, long overdue chapter with Courtney's backstory back when she was timid. XD Enjoy!
Chapter 3 – Parties and Games
Courtney's POV
She closed her eyes.
They couldn't see her if she couldn't see them…right? Maybe if she just ignored them, they'd go away.
Someone snapped their fingers in front of her face and she rapidly blinked her eyelids back open. So much for trying that… She slowly lifted her gaze up to the face of the person that bothered her.
Of course, she wasn't annoyed or angry. She felt more scared and nervous than anything else.
She had no idea what was going on or what they'd do with her.
Heck, she had no idea what any of them were talking about. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to know. She felt some of the looks she was being given by a few others weren't quite welcoming.
Maybe she was frustrating them somehow…
The person that snapped his fingers was watching her with an intense gaze. He looked curious.
"Hey Clu, Tron, what've we got here?" Someone that looked identical to the yellow-circuited program approached them. "I heard there was some trouble."
Trouble? Were they talking about her? Courtney couldn't hide her fears anymore and started to visibly shake.
"No, no trouble," A Program wearing a white suit piped up, which helped her relax a little. Not much, but a little. "Just a minor…bug in her system." He rubbed the back of his neck. "At least that's my best guess…"
"She's mostly unresponsive," The yellow-circuited guy said, "Maybe she was bitten by a Grid bug-"
"Grid bugs don't impact Programs to that extent," White-suited guy interrupted. "Perhaps a minor error…nothing that can't be fixed, right?" He turned to the new guy identical to the yellow-circuited Program.
"Whoa, slow down, you two." He turned to the guy in the white suit, "Considering all the…interesting events that have been going on lately, Tron, I wouldn't doubt what a Grid bug is capable of." He turned to the other guy, "And Clu, would you mind telling me what 'mostly unresponsive' means?"
She closed her eyes and pulled her knees to her chest. All she really knew was that she was found in a seemingly endless rocky terrain by these two guys and brought to…wherever she is now.
They tried talking to her but she didn't really know what they were trying to accomplish through that, so she ignored them and mentally closed herself off from her surroundings completely.
Now she was starting to wonder if that was a smart thing to do. But that's exactly what she was doing right now; tuning out their conversation and closing herself off.
She thought she heard the third guy saying something to her but she didn't pay any attention.
"…That's about how I'd describe 'mostly unresponsive' in her case," Clu muttered.
"'Mostly unresponsive'? She looks like she's in her own world right now." He turned to glance back at Tron and Clu. "Where'd you say you found her again?"
Tron shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "…The Middle of Nowhere." He mumbled.
"All the way out there?" He didn't wait for a response and turned back to face her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She was immediately jolted out of her meditation and faced the User with wide eyes, her breathing quickened as she waited for him to decide what to do with her.
"What's your name?" He asked her.
She said nothing.
"Will you tell me your Programming?"
She said nothing.
"Can you talk?"
She looked down and he made her face him again. "Okay, we're still at square one here." He thought for a moment, "You understand me, right?"
She hesitantly inclined her head.
He smiled at the small progress. "Do you have a name?"
She frowned and looked back down.
His smile fell when she shook her head.
"Let's pick one then," He smiled. "You very own designation,"
She blinked at him.
He sighed and tapped his chin. "Shay?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "Nah, never mind. You don't look like a Shay to me."
She didn't. She had a black suit on that covers most of her body but leaves her feet and arms completely bare. Her neckline is low but doesn't show off much cleavage, if any. She had caramel-colored hair, white primary circuits and yellow secondary ones that seemed to match her eyes.
"How about…Courtney?"
The corners of her lips went up immediately upon hearing the name. The User smiled back. "Courtney it is then." He tapped his index finger on a baton he was holding. "Moving on," He thought for a moment.
"Uh, Flynn?" Tron spoke up. "I'm afraid some of the riots in the ISO District need attending to."
Flynn frowned at the inconvenience but nodded at the Security Monitor. "Clu," He turned to his copy. "Could you find someone that will have the time to help out our new friend with speech and interaction? Thank you." He then turned and walked away.
Courtney blinked a few times before turning towards the yellow-circuited Program. Clu didn't talk but he did scrutinize her at some point on the way back to the City. She stared back with a blank, curious gaze that seemed to make him a little uncomfortable.
When they entered the City, Clu finally attempted to engage in a conversation. He told her about the rules and regulations of Tron City and when he asked her a question, he made sure she'd be able to answer through nodding or shaking her head.
She could vaguely see that the System Administrator was feeling a little proud to have at least given her a start in the basics in communication.
He left her in the care of two other girls, promising to check up on her later if he had time. After he left, the girls introduced themselves at Alpha and Liz, who were friendly enough and very patient when teaching her how to speak.
Well…Alpha was, at least, as was another named Zoe; Liz was more of the person who blew a circuit quickly but didn't take it out on anyone in the room. Plus she went out a lot to get drinks.
Courtney took small sips of energy after Alpha decided to take a break for now. They made very little progress so far but Zoe saw promise.
And true to his word, Clu visited at some point; though Courtney hadn't started speaking yet, she was more responsive with conversations that involved her.
It wasn't until a few cycles later that Courtney was able to talk a little bit. Her voice was quiet, timid, and she said the words so slowly, as if it took so much effort to not mess up the words she spoke.
And that was when Liz suggested they went to a party to celebrate. What better place was there to party other than the End of Line Club?
Courtney had no idea how Liz apparently became best pals with Zuse. Alpha and Zoe didn't have a clue either; Liz never told them that little story. Not that Courtney cared that much. She thought it best to leave that subject at peace.
She hated the way the boots pinched her feet when she wore them – Courtney preferred to go barefoot everywhere but no one understood why. Courtney tried to wiggle her toes during the long elevator ride up the tower but only resulted in further discomfort.
"I hate boots." She said bluntly in her usual quiet voice. It was the longest sentence she's spoken yet. However, it wasn't the first time she's said it.
Liz patted her shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, I know, sweetie. Just try and keep 'em on tonight. By the time we start partying, you'll probably forget you're even wearing shoes!" She gave the shy Special an encouraging grin.
It was unlikely. Every time she took a step, shifted her weight, wiggled her toes and whatnot, it reminded her of the discomfort in her feet. It never felt right.
Courtney sighed and pressed her lips together. No use arguing. Besides, she could make it through the night…hopefully. She could hear the blasting music before they even reached the top floor. When the doors opened, it was like she'd entered a different world.
Ever since she was found, she was kept in quiet, undisturbed environments. This wasn't something she was used to. As Courtney looked around the room, she saw lots of Programs mingling and dancing.
There were so many – at least forty or so. Too many pairs of eyes that would shift toward her and then look away again. Courtney backed up and her back hit Zoe. The agent put a comforting hand on her shoulder and guided her into the large space.
Liz, who, unlike Courtney, welcomed the chaos and strode right in. Just after taking five steps, however, they were stopped by the bouncers.
One of them eyed Liz. "State your business."
Liz turned her head toward the buff male and raised her eyebrows. "Um…to have fun?" She moved to step around him but the other barred her way.
"The room's nearly filled to capacity." The other informed her. "I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to come back later."
Liz narrowed her eyes. "You said nearly filled to capacity. There's still room; I can see it. Now let us through."
The first bouncer took a threatening step forward when Liz tried to move around them again. "Ma'am, if you refuse to leave, we'll have to use force."
Liz scowled. "I could put you and your pal on the floor in less than a Micro!" She stepped up to him but Alpha put a hand on her shoulder. Liz sighed and switched tactics and smiled sweetly. "Tell you what, we'll wait right here while you go and talk to Zuse for us. Tell him his old pal: Liz and a few of her friends are waiting for permission to enter."
They hesitated but the second guy huffed and walked away. The First one watched them as if he was expecting them to stab him in the back if he turned away.
The second bouncer returned quickly with Zuse right behind. "Liz, darling!" He stepped forward and hugged her. "It's been far too long! I see you've received my invite." He stepped back and glanced at her friends for the first time. "And who are these charming young ladies?" He asked.
Liz hooked her arm around Zoe's neck and pulled her forward. "This is my best pal, Zoe! She's saved me from getting a disk wedged in my back four times!"
"Five times." Zoe corrected.
Liz rolled her eyes and released her friend. "Whatever. That's Alpha. She's awesome; a real party animal." She turned to her last companion. "And this last one," She patted Courtney on the back. "This is Courtney. New to the Grid and still learning. A little shy – I'm trying to get her out of her comfort zone." She shrugged. "Ya know."
Zuse grinned. "I see. Well, come on in! Newcomers are always welcome here!" He turned to the bouncers. "Worry not, my friends, simple misunderstanding. Nothing more. Carry on."
The Club's owner turned around to face them again. "Now, Liz, I do believe you promised to make a good show this visit. But please, this time, try not to go too far this time when expressing your victories." He gave her an amused smile. "As for the rest of you, feel free to join on the dance floor, kick back on a sofa, or have a drink!"
Courtney heard some shouts and the smacking sound of hitting. Zuse frowned and turned his head. "I'm afraid I'll have to take care of this. So sorry. I'll be right back." He walked away to deal with the fighting while Liz started making a beeline for the bar.
Zoe and Alpha decided to lounge back elsewhere. After a few Nanos of debating with herself, Courtney decided to tag along with Liz to see what she was up to.
"Shaddix!" Liz leaned over the counter to give the bartender a big kiss on the cheek. "How long has it been? A few HiloCycles at least?" She clambered up onto the counter and started shouting challenges to drinking contests. "If anyone thinks they can beat me before getting an overload, feel free to step up!"
A big, tough-looking guy took a seat on a stool and smirked at Liz. He looked pretty sober, and the spunky young female took that as a challenge. "You wanna go?" She asked with a wide smirk.
He flashed a wicked grin. "Alright then."
Liz took a seat next to him and Shaddix got to work. Courtney plopped down on a stool next to Liz and watched as they took turns to emptying glasses.
First there were six rounds consumed, then thirteen. By then, the male Program was starting to look drunk while Liz looked like she hadn't even started yet.
By the time they reached twenty one shots, he collapsed out of the stool and Liz blinked down at him. "Best two out of three?" She offered, and the bystanders started chuckling.
Yeah, that guy didn't have a chance of recovering until at least a few millicycles from now. Liz spun around in her stool to grin at Courtney, not looking very drunk at all. A Program had to wonder where she was putting all that stuff.
"So," Liz rested her cheek on her fist. "You wanna have a round?"
"No." Courtney said quickly.
Liz giggled. "Okay then." She turned to Shaddix and requested two drinks that didn't contain alcohol. As they sipped the energy, Liz nudged Courtney with her elbow. "Hey, that guy over there is making eyes at you." She teased.
Courtney turned to look where Liz was gesturing and sure enough, a guy was watching her from afar with an intense expression. He almost looked like he had a bit too much to drink.
"You should talk to him." Liz suggested. "It would help with your speech and it's a brand new experience. You'd make a new friend!"
That guy over there looked like he wanted to own her or something. Courtney felt a chill go down her spine. Maybe Liz could handle her alcohol, but that didn't mean she was immune to the effects. Talking to a Program like that was dangerous, and Liz was clearly unable to see that at the moment.
"No, I'm better off not talking to him." She said quietly and paused.
Did she just say that?
Liz seemed to notice too and grinned. "Well, well, well, look who's finally gotten the hang of talking!" She cheered. "Took you long enough. Let's drink to it!" She ordered a refill for both of them and Courtney quickly downed her second glass.
"I'm…going to Zoe and Alpha." She said loud enough for Liz to hear and slid off her stool. Courtney squeezed through the crowd of dancing Programs and kept her sights on her friends. She bumped into a few Programs along the way and politely pushed past them, muttering an apology.
Alpha and Zoe seemed to be discussing something important, judging from the expressions on their faces. Alpha looked up at Courtney and walked over. "You alright?" She asked.
Courtney blinked a few times as she processed the question. No, she didn't feel good. She was starting to feel uncomfortable in this club. It turns out that parties aren't really her thing.
She felt several pairs of eyes on her. Zoe joined Alpha's side and said something that Courtney didn't hear. She turned around to see that same guy staring at her. A wave of paranoia struck her and she backed up into her friends. The room started spinning and she placed her hand on her forehead.
A hand clamped down on her shoulder and pulled her towards the elevator and Courtney didn't resist. As soon as they got outside, Courtney gathered her wits and looked up. Alpha was staring at her with a hint of concern but also curiosity.
"Looks like parties are a little intense for you, aren't they?" She asked.
Courtney nodded, her head still resting on her hand. "Yeah, you could put it like that." She said dryly. "I don't like it there."
"Can't blame you." Alpha replied. "Come on, let's get you home. Zoe agreed to stay behind so Liz doesn't get into too much trouble this time; you know how she can get."
"That-that guy back there…" She started. "He gave me the creeps."
Alpha slipped an arm around her shoulders and guided her down the street. "Clubs are usually full of intoxicated Programs. That's something helpful you'll want to keep in mind from now on." She shrugged. "Most Programs are friendly, but there are a few…" She trailed off and shook her head. "Never mind. We can discuss this sort of thing later."
They were silent for a while as they kept walking and getting closer to the Specials' District – the place they called home. "What were you and Zoe talking about?" Courtney asked.
Alpha stiffened but quickly relaxed. She casually shrugged and smiled coyly. "Well, Zoe was asking me how I felt about having a boyfriend."
Courtney wasn't convinced with her act but didn't say anything against her. Perhaps they truly did have that discussion at a different time and she didn't know about it. "And?" She pressed on.
"I laughed at her." Alpha shrugged. "I mean, I'm not really concerned about that kind of stuff right now." She glanced at Courtney. "Could you see me doing that? Dating a guy and doing whatever couples do?"
Courtney pursed her lips. "That kind of thing could happen to anyone." She replied quietly.
"I bet you could find a guy." Alpha mused. "It's not impossible. You're cute; it would take a blind person not to see that."
"But having to deal with possible heartbreak-" Courtney shook her head. "I don't like taking gambles like that. I avoid them."
Alpha shrugged. "Well, your odds of finding a boyfriend are fair, I'm just saying…"
"You might get one too in the near future." Courtney pointed out.
Alpha chuckled. "True, true. But only time will tell, won't it?"
They entered their apartment building and stepped into the elevator. Courtney pressed their floor number and the doors closed. Neither of them spoke to each other for the rest of the night.
They exited the elevator and walked down the hallway to their own rooms. Courtney shut her bedroom door behind her with a sigh and collapsed on her bed. She dreamt of nothing that night.
…
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Courtney jerked upright, dizzy from just waking up.
"Rise and shine, princess!" Liz's loud voice sounded muffled from behind the door. "Get up or I'll come in and get you up, myself. We're going out to have some fun!"
Courtney blinked a few times and got to her feet, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes with the heel of her hand. She opened the door and looked at Liz, who was grinning with ecstasy.
"What? Why?" Courtney asked.
Liz put her hands on her hips. "Because I think it'll be fun for everyone. Now come on! Zoe and Alpha are already waiting outside!" She grabbed Courtney's arm with one hand, shut the door behind them with the other, and then quickly escorted her to the elevator.
"Wow that was fast." Zoe complimented. "Did you drag Courtney out of bed again? You know you shouldn't be rough with her." She scolded her friend.
"Who? Me?" Liz looked at Zoe innocently. "What gave you that thought?" She rolled her eyes. "But you shouldn't worry; Courtney can handle anything that comes at her, am I right?" Liz elbowed a silent Courtney playfully. "By the way, where's Alpha?"
Zoe jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "She's already at the park. We figured you guys would take a while but," She shrugged. "Guess we're not right about everything."
"Do you mean 'we' or just you?" Liz asked.
"Are you looking to receive battle scars anytime soon?" Zoe replied darkly.
"Ouch!" Liz mocked a pained look. "Someone's touchy."
"I'll meet you guys at the field." Courtney mumbled, already tired of their verbal quarrel. Alpha was already wearing protective gear when Courtney greeted her. "Um…what's that for?"
Alpha grinned sheepishly. "It was Liz's idea to go out for a few rounds of disk games. She also mentioned it might be good for your fitness." She shrugged. "Sometimes I think that girl doesn't have a level head."
It was true, the way Courtney saw it. As Alpha helped her with the armor, she thought about her time spent hanging out with Liz. That Program didn't know what the words 'impossible' or 'limits' meant. She was always going places, causing mischief and doing all sorts of illogical and crazy acts just to prove that she can, if it's not just for fun.
Those thoughts weren't comforting at all for Courtney, especially knowing that these 'disk games' were all Liz's idea. By the time her armor was fitted to her figure, Zoe and Liz showed up, elbowing each other and giggling the entire way. Well, most of the giggling actually came from Liz.
The two rezzed up their armor with big grins. "Okay," Liz began, "How about…Courtney versus Alpha and I'll go against Zoe for the first couple rounds."
"You're a goner, Liz." Zoe shouted at her opponent. "You know I'm better,"
"Yeah, I just have too much pride for myself to be able to admit such things." Liz smirked. "You won't get any such statement from me as long as I'm alive!"
"Bring it on!" Zoe goaded.
The two friends clashed disks and things only got more intense from there. Alpha turned to Courtney. "You understand the basics, right?" Courtney nodded. Stay within the force field and don't activate your disk. The point of the game was to 'survive' and beat your opponent. Simple enough.
Of course, just because the task was simple didn't mean it would be easy. Alpha was more capable of fighting than she let on and beat Courtney every single time. Alpha just seemed so selfless and polite all the time that she never showed any aggressiveness in her speech or stances like Liz and Zoe did.
Their game was a little frustrating but also funny; she always got so close before she was put down, almost like torture. Every time Courtney lost, Alpha would help her back up, tell her whatever she did wrong with fighting, then compliment her endurance and they'd continue.
After a while, Liz called for a switch so it was Courtney against Zoe. Liz was also probably frustrated of constantly losing to Zoe that she wanted to fight someone she could actually beat.
It was pretty low of Liz to do that; and Courtney knew everyone was thinking it. Doesn't mean anyone would say anything. Besides, it was very petty; they were just playing a friendly game.
Zoe knew Courtney was unfamiliar with fighting in this type of game so she was merciful and went easy on her. Of course, like Liz, Zoe was also very competitive so that meant she wouldn't actually let Courtney win, either. So mean.
But when they switched opponents again, Courtney went against Liz. It was a little easier than going against Zoe this time. And maybe after several dozen rounds, she managed to win her first round. Liz, who was always up front about her stubborn pride, claimed that she only 'let her win' because it was sad to see her lose so much.
It probably would've offended any Program more sensitive than Courtney but she just laughed and brushed it off. It didn't matter to her if Liz went easy on her or not; she still won the round.
"Alright, alright, whatever." Liz got into her stance with her disk at ready. "I want a rematch."
Next chapter's a surprise...only 1 of my friends know of the plot though. (Psst. Friend I told next chapter's plot to who I will keep anonymous, don't give away the surprise ;P) But anyway, I PROMISE to post this one on time next Tuesday. I'll see you guys next time.
TRON LIVES!