Chapter Nine
They were still waiting, impatiently of course, for Copper's return. It felt like cycles had passed before Paige finally spotted him. Mara was still talking with Zed about all the memories they had with Beck when she pointed out the exhausted looking program.
"Copper, what happened to you?" Dash rushed forward to help his friend up. Copper looked like he was ready to pass out.
"I ran into a little problem while evacuating the city," Copper explained with a sheepish grin. "Barely got out alive."
"It was the black guard, wasn't it?" Paige asked.
Copper's only response was a nod of confirmation. "Someone else was there too though... He helped me get out," he added warily.
He? Mara exchanged an anxious look with Zed. She could only imagine what he meant by that. It could've been Tron or that User with anger issues.
"We need to get you some rest," Dash said. He had one arm around Copper while keeping his friend from falling over.
"And some energy," Copper groaned.
The team wasted no time in getting him back to the safehouse. While they were waiting she had a feeling that Tron was still out along with his closest companions. Maybe Copper would be able to tell them exactly what had happened during his capture. She hoped that nothing too serious had happened to him.
. . .
"You call this simple?" Tron rolled his eyes as Clint asked the question for what felt like the hundredth time.
He wondered how Users could get this annoying. It's a good thing Mira was nothing like them. Though at this point it was always difficult comparing the three of them. In ways she was just like Natasha. Difficult to read and even more difficult to calm down when angry. In other ways though she was like Clint.
"It's simple enough," Tron replied. "Got your target?"
Clint's only response was a fire of an arrow, landing straight into the path of a group of soldiers.
The base was heavily guarded, not that that surprised Tron. Dyson likely already knew he would strike back. What bothered Tron more than anything was the soldier that had stayed behind after Purgos was destroyed. Would they meet that soldier?
He didn't get the chance to think it over. Their window of opportunity was closing. The two of them made a run for it as the soldiers were still recovering from the explosion. He had to admit that Clint was good with his aim.
Once they were inside more soldiers waited for them. This had to be Dyson's base. If his speculations were right than the program he had grown to hate more than anything else was waiting for them. Almost at once Tron felt his fists tighten at the thought.
"Cover your ears," Clint suddenly ordered while pulling out another arrow. Tron eyed him suspiciously before performing the task.
Once the arrow was fired the soldiers stopped in their tracks, looking at one another in confusion. That was when shockwaves surged through the hallway. For once Tron was thankful he had covered his ears. The soldiers stumbled to the floor, unable to move.
"What was that?" Judging by the smirk Clint was wearing, he had known this would happen.
"Repulsor arrow," he replied.
Tron raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed with the technology used. Users never ceased to amaze him.
The two of them ran down the halls once they were cleared out. Any soldier close enough would've been knocked out by the signal. Unfortunately that was the easy part of their task. Now they had to figure out which room Dyson was hiding in. And that wasn't all they had to worry about.
"So what now?" Several doors now loomed before them. Each one of them could lead to another hallway, or a room full of soldiers.
"This is usually why I bring Beck," Tron grumbled. If they had come as a team than this might have been an easier task. But now they would have to be careful.
In the end they chose the door closest to them. What they saw next was something unexpected.
A room made up entirely of scientists. All of them performing various tasks such as research or looking at different models on screens. One of the scientists had finally noticed their arrival. But they made no move to attack.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Tron grabbed the scientist closest to him and pinned her to the wall, raising a disk against her throat. The scientist didn't even struggle. Her eyes were wide with panic, but she made no attempts at fighting back.
"If we knew we would tell you," she said in a rushed voice. "Dyson had locked up in here, working on new 'ideas' for him for the past xilacycle." Clint raised an eyebrow at the term she just used. Users weren't familiar with how time worked on the Grid. Which was probably a good thing.
"So you truly have no idea why you're here?" Tron pressed his disk against the scientist's neck. Now she was beginning to struggle. The other scientists had gotten up, realizing that their lives could be in danger.
"No!" The scientist braced herself as Tron dropped her.
"Then get out, before Dyson finds out," he snapped.
The scientists gathered around hesitated for a moment, afraid that he might be lying. Tron just folded his arms and waited for the realization that they were free to sink in. And in a matter of nanocycles all of the scientists made a run for it.
"Think she was telling the truth?" Clint looked at the screens curiously once they were alone.
"She was. Their energy levels were dangerously low," Tron explained. "Dyson must have set the place up as a prison for them, to have them create new weapons and methods of torture." Each word came out as though he was grinding his teeth.
The more he learned about Dyson the more he hated the program. Now he wished he had derezzed Dyson when he had the chance. It was only thanks to Beck that he had stopped himself from doing so.
He started sifting through the images on the screens, hoping to have some kind of clue as to where Dyson was hiding. These scientists didn't know the proper code to find their way out. Luckily it was easy hacking into the system.
"There he is." Tron memorized the room as soon as he reached the location.
"Along with that soldier of his," Clint added after glancing at the image. The worry Tron had felt earlier suddenly returned. This soldier was far too familiar for his likings. And he was sure Clint and Natasha had noticed already. Neither of them were willing to admit it though.
"Let's get this done and over with," Tron muttered.
. . .
"Did you manage to see who saved you?" Everyone from Able's garage was gathered around Copper, who was holding a glass of energy while describing his tale.
"Uh... yeah," he replied nervously. "I mean, at least his voice sounded familiar. And he didn't argue when I said his name."
"So, what was his name?" Link asked.
Mara found it hard to believe that he was speaking up. Over the past few cycles Link had become more sociable. Now he was actually fun to be around, especially at the club when they were playing music rather than movies from the User world.
"His name was... Beck," Copper replied in a reluctant tone.
Silence followed his words. And than came the shocked expressions. Mara stared at Copper as if he had grown wings. It could be any Beck, but she only knew of one on the Grid. And that Beck had disappeared, right?
"Copper, are you sure?" Zed asked, voice full of hope.
"Yeah. He stayed behind and let me escape. I'm guessing he wasn't expecting to see me either," Copper added wit a bitter laugh.
"This is huge!" Mara exclaimed. "If Beck's alive than that means the Renegade still lives... and that means he really is the Renegade!"
"Guys, calm down." That was Paige speaking up. "I think there's a reason he didn't tell you. He doesn't want to be treated like a hero, plus he has enough to worry about as it is."
As much as Mara hated admitting it, she was probably right. She had a feeling that Beck was too afraid, or too ashamed to face his friends. That was why he had always kept a mask on. She hoped that when this was all over, they could sit down and chat.
AN: So the secret's out. Now things are getting more exciting by the nano ;) And I'm seeing the Winter Soldier again, this time in 3D XD It's too good to see only once. I missed way too many details. Anywho, a big thank you to 2theSky and Panda Bear Lover 317 for reviewing! You guys are awesome! :D