Happy Tron Tuesday, Programs! This is just a little something in the honor of the ISOs before things got more difficult for them. ;)
I enjoyed writing this because most of my chapters usually had fights and bad guys and whatnot but this is more like a backstory for Evelyn and her friends. Hope you guys like it!

Chapter 5 – Isomorphic Algorithms

Evelyn's POV

"Hey, Evie!" The ISO looked up from her artwork and grinned.

"Dallas, I thought you weren't coming!" She wrapped her arms around her friend. "How're things in Arjia?"

Dallas shrugged. "Satisfying, as usual. Anything new here in Tron City?"

Evelyn's smile faltered and she set down her art supplies. "Well, lots of riots but I'm sure you don't need me to inform you about those."

Dallas frowned. "How bad?"

"Well, they're definitely not getting better." Evelyn sighed. "I don't get what's so bad about us! What are the Basics' Problems?"

"Grid Bugs." Dallas replied bluntly. "Oh, and we're not organized with specific Programmings. I can tell that it's stressing Clu out. I'm surprised his patience with us has remained intact for so long."

Evelyn looked at Dallas with a dull expression. "You know, we get bitten by Grid Bugs too. The Basics know that; do we really have to be blamed for everything bad that happens? I certainly don't see any hostility directed at the Specials!"

Dallas patted Evelyn's shoulder. "You know, these discussions get old after a while." She reminded her friend. "We can do better in life. Now come on, I want to surprise Cassandra and Valor!"

That's right, Dallas told them she wouldn't be able to visit but she did anyway. They'll be so excited. Evelyn pulled out her baton and waved it teasingly in Dallas's face. "Race you there!" She shouted and took off.

Dallas stuck out her tongue and followed. "No fair! You had a head start!"

"Better catch up if you wanna beat me!" Evelyn goaded, causing her friend to narrow her eyes.

"Sometimes you annoy me." She mumbled.

Evelyn grinned. "Why, thank you! It's so nice to be hanging out together."

Dallas couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah, yeah."

…

Evelyn sat by Valor and watched at Dallas and Cassie played an extremely intense game of tic tac toe. Since Flynn introduced the game to the Programs, it's become a popular game of strategy.

Unfortunately, Cassie didn't have her head screwed on straight at the moment. She frowned at the board and drew a circle in the upper right corner, when she should've done so in the middle square at the bottom row.

Dallas drew an X in that spot when it was her turn and drew a diagonal line down the middle where she got three of them in a row.

Cassie gasped loudly. "You tricked me!" She accused, causing Valor and Evelyn to laugh. It was no trickery; Cassie was the only one at fault for losing. "I demand to have another round!" She said dramatically.

"Okay, okay, don't get your circuits in a twist." Dallas said lightly. "I've got plenty of time before I need to head back to Arjia."

"It's never enough though." Valor complained. "Come live with us! Tron City's a good place to live too."

Dallas frowned. "I can't just leave my job. It's hard to adjust when you move. You know that because otherwise you would've moved to Arjia, yourself!"

"Let's not dwell on this conversation." Cassie said, examining her nails. "Why don't we have some real fun, say…" She smirked. "Another round of tic tac toe?"

"You're on!" Evelyn said before Dallas could say anything.

She glanced at Valor. "You wanna have a go?"

Valor shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

The group of ISOs played about 17 rounds within the next PectroCycle, taking each game very seriously until it got a little boring. "Anyone up for disk games?" Valor offered. "You know how much I wanna beat Dallas's winning streak!"

"You got it!" Dallas jumped to her feet and hightailed it to the park. They helped each other activate their armor while they waited for their turn in the field. Dallas glanced at the Programs in front of them and shrugged. "Not a long wait this time." She grinned. "So who wants to fight me first?"

"Me! Valor said at the same time as Evelyn. They settled it over rock, paper, scissors and Evelyn won.

"You're doomed!" Evelyn said dramatically. "I've been practicing!" She emphasized her words by doing a bunch of kicks and punches in the air. She jumped up and spun in the air – it was a pretty good move, and would've been perfect if she hadn't landed on top of a Program in front of them in line.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Evelyn stood up and looked at the victim of her landing.

The male Program was obviously not in a good mood and pushed away her offer to help him up. "Just be careful next time." He said bluntly. "Someone could've gotten hurt."

"You know, you could settle issues over a disk war, instead." Dallas piped up, "There's really no need to get touchy."

The guy seemed to actually consider it. "Alright, we'll settle it over one round."

When it was his turn, he activated his armor and stood on one end of the ring while Evelyn walked to the place opposite of him.

"Players 1 and 2, please prepare for Disk battle."

When it started, the two Programs rushed each other and were doing all these fancy flips and techniques to throw their disks and dodge the other Program's attacks.

Evelyn ducked her head as his disk flew toward her and passed overhead safely. She rolled out of the way when it ricocheted off the force field behind her and back to its owner. She tossed her disk and he did a fancy pencil spin in mid-air.

The ISOs couldn't help but gawk. They were "okay" combatants but not experts. This guy was an experienced fighter.

He somehow got up close to Evelyn during their disk battle and caught her disk so he could hold both at her neck. Then he tossed them in different directions and they bounced off the wall and rammed into Evelyn so fast that she didn't see it coming.

"Player 2 defeated. Game over. Do you wish to play again?" The voice echoed over the field.

The male Program stood over Evelyn and handed her back her disk while helping her up. "Not bad." He complimented. "But I wouldn't recommend showing off like I was until you work a little bit on your speed." He paused. "You should also keep tension in your stomach and your weight on the balls of your feet. Always stay moving and never go still."

"Thanks. I'm Evelyn." She held out her hand.

"I'm Avery." He rubbed his chin. "You know, I've got some time off next cycle. If you feel up to it, we can all meet back here and I can teach you a thing or two."

"We really could use the lessons." Evelyn admitted. "Some of us have a habit of getting into trouble."

"So I see." Avery was no longer looking at Evelyn. She followed his gaze to see Valor backing away from an angry Program. Suddenly, the hostile drew his disk to threaten her ISO friend.

"Hey!" Avery drew his disk and approached the two Programs. "Stand down or I'll have to use force." Valor backed up and held up his hands to claim innocence.

The other reluctantly docked his disk. "You're dead, ISO!" He threatened. "Wait 'till I get my hands on you."

"This isn't necessary." Avery said firmly as he pulled the Program aside for a talk.

"You know what I think?" Cassie asked.

"What?" Both Evelyn and Dallas asked.

"I think Avery is a security Program." Cassie whispered.

"I think you're right." Dallas replied.

Evelyn shrugged. "That's cool. All the more obvious of why he beat me."

"Well, you are an easy person to beat." Dallas said smugly.

"I'll kick your butt."

"You wanna have a go?"

"Certainly!"

"Let's do it!"

In less than 5 Micros, Dallas beat Evelyn…again.

"Don't feel bad." Dallas elbowed her friend. "You've really improved since our last game."

"Whatever," Evelyn rolled her eyes. "What does it matter, anyway? I know I'm never going to have the skill of a security Program."

"You can still learn from one, though." Dallas pointed out. "Take advantage of it. Not many Programs can learn from a security Program, let alone befriend one. Just try to stay out of trouble when I'm gone, okay?"

"Okay…" Evelyn said dully.

"Dallas," Cassie said sadly. "Just stay. We'll become inseparable."

The ISO stared at her friend. "Don't be so dramatic about it. I'll be back in a couple of MylaCycles. It's not a big deal." She looked up and saw an annoyed Avery heading back toward them. Behind him, the hostile Program was struggling against handcuffs and several officers pulling toward a truck. "And you've got Avery, isn't that right?"

Avery looked up and nodded absently. "Have a safe trip." He said, "And be careful, the Basics are getting awfully violent."

"Don't worry, I can beat Evelyn in a fight so I'm sure I could handle a gang."

Avery rolled his eyes. "Let's hope you won't have to."

Dallas rezzed her lightcycle and departed her friends.

Cassie glanced around. "Where's Valor?" She asked.

Avery sighed. "He said he was going to have a couple shots and the End of Line Club."

"Without me?!" Cassie rushed off without warning. Evelyn and Avery were alone.

"So, how do I increase my speed?" Evelyn asked.

Avery rubbed his chin, apparently it was a habit of his. "Uhh…let's test your agility – they're similar techniques. It's very simple."

…

Aden's POV

"Do you always have to be negative?" Sylvie raised an eyebrow at Aden. "You know, not all Basics are out to get us. I don't understand why you don't see that. Just because you fell victim to a riot against our kind doesn't give you the right to go against every Basic you see. They're just a little…uncomfortable. They need more time to adjust and adapt to the changes."

"I don't think all Programs like change." Aden rubbed his forehead. "Mark my words: this isn't coincidence. Someone is working behind these riots and feeding the Basics false information."

Kym, who'd been sitting quietly throughout the conversation, raised an eyebrow. "I never looked at it like that before." He admitted. "It would make sense. Someone watching the ISOs and taking notes about whatever inconvenience occurs. I'd buy the info."

Sylvie bit her lip. "We need real proof…and the identity of whoever's behind it."

"I have a suspicion," Aden raised his hand. "But it sounds absurd," He admitted.

"Can't be more absurd than if I grew wings." Kym said lightly.

Aden sighed. "Clu could be behind it."

"Uhh…scratch that. Growing wings sounds much more realistic." Kym shook his head. "Did you hit your head too hard during that riot back there?"

Ace once again touched his forehead where a Basic slammed it into the ground. He was lucky enough not to get anything worse. "It makes sense though." He insisted. "When we first came into existence, Clu gave us the cold shoulder and pointed out that we attract Grid Bugs. That's something."

"That's where it stops." Sylvie crossed her arms. "If I was Flynn, I wouldn't believe it."

"But isn't it odd how Clu suddenly changes character and acts all sweet around us suddenly, even though it all felt wrong? You told me yourself, Sylvie. You said the aura of the space felt negative."

"I said there was a palpable tension in the atmosphere." Sylvie said. "…But it did feel negative." She said quietly.

Aden sat down and crossed his legs. "Just keep your eyes peeled. Pay special attention to Clu." He grabbed a glass of energy and took a sip. "He's the center of my suspicion; I just need more evidence. And time to think about it."

"I don't think we have time." Kym said in a tense voice. "I see mobs – lots of mobs – heading our way. And I don't think they look very happy."

Okay, this is going to be the last chance for people to submit ideas for events before the ISO War. Otherwise I'm going to continue with what I have planned out. Remember guys, I don't see every error I make so if there are anything unexplained or loose ends, I'm going to need you to point them out. Reviews are always appreciated and I'll see you next time.

TRON LIVES!