-
“Security breach?” Tron asked as he grabbed the program by the shoulders. “Did you say a security breach?”
“The ship of the enemy has been spotted.
“A rectifyer?” Sam asked.
“Not that big,” the program said. “But it is a good size.”
“How did they get in?” Yori asked. She had removed a selection of files from her holographic player and placed it in a clear and glowing container in the shape of a diamond and the size of her hand. She clipped it to her right calf.
“We are not certain. We thought everything was secure.”
“What are you guys doing about it?” Sam asked.
“Arc has called everyone together.” The program turned around. “In the center of the outlands.”
“User burn it,” Tron swore. “Come on.” He ran to the where a crowd had gathered.
Several programs, mostly those who were newly recruited were panicking. Arc was standing in front and appeared calm and poised. Tron found Ram along with Quorra and Alan at the side.
“Silence,” Arc shouted. His voice had a good echo. “What we had feared as finally come to pass.”
“What are we going to do?” Someone asked.
“We are going to fight,” Someone else shouted.
“We are going to learn what is truly going on,” Arc said. “What have the reports said?”
A program cleared their throat. “Several programs have lashed out at a few security programs. While fighting, these odd programs had their lights turn red. They are subduing and capturing the security programs. They don’t seem to be interested in anyone else.”
“They are taking out the security programs first,” Tron said. Everything was coming back to his memory. “They are either going to repurpose them or put them in the games. Those that resist the most will be sent to the games.”
“One of Osiris’s ship has also been seen,” the same program continued. “It is the smaller of his two ships. Not the one he uses to rectify programs, not mainly from what I’ve been told.
“They might be taking out the security so they can weaken the defense,” Sam said.
“Osiris doesn’t know that most of security is over here,” Ram said as he took his place next to Arc. “That does mean he will try to send his forces through the city.”
“How did he get through?” Alan asked. “This was the strongest Firewall we could create.”
“Copy skills,” the same reporting program said. “Those programs that are taking out security appeared to be neutral at first.”
“Dad told me he took on that kind of disguise,” Sam said. “I had thought only Users could do that.”
“Times have changed,” Yori told him. “Newer programs are being developed with every new megacycle.”
“I have a question,” Janelle said. “What’s going to stop Osiris from going back for his rectifyer or having it come here?”
“That is our main concern,” Arc said. “We have to find a way to get aboard the present ship and shut it down.” He turned towards the direction of Alan. “We close its means of connecting with the rest of Osiris’s forces. It will buy us enough time.”
“Enough time for what?” Someone asked.
“Enough time for those from Flynn’s Grid to arrive,” Quorra said. “And for Alan to reach an I/O tower to get the message to Adrian.”
“Who’s Adrian?” Someone asked.
“He’s a User on the other side,” Janelle said in a proud tone. “He has something that will help us. It will give us the winning edge.”
“We need to decide who will go aboard the ship to shut it down,” Arc said. “And who will accompany this User to the I/O tower.”
-
Four were chosen to go to take out the ship’s power. Tron had insisted her would lead the team. He knew how to sneak around circuits the best out of any program Yori had the best skills when it took to help shut down the ship. She also knew her away around. Sam and Quorra were also skilled fighters and possessed hacking abilities.
“I see it,” Quorra said as they neared their borrowed cycles to part of the city that was closest to the Firewall.
“Keep your helmets on,” Tron instructed. “And stay next to the shadows.”
“Easy,” Sam said. He had claimed that he has mastered the skill of stealth.
“Stay close,” Tron said and lead through back alleys and corners where there was barely any light. There were no programs to be found. They were more than likely frightened at the site of the ship.
“Should we try and change the password on the Firewall?” Quorra asked.
“Don’t know if that will be necessary,” Sam told her. “Alan might have gotten through and Adrian would be uploading the contents of that disk.”
“Don’t forget the time difference,” Quorra reminded him.
“Yeah.” The User frowned. “I hate the little details at times.”
“Quiet,” Tron said. He swore he heard the sounds of various footsteps coming down the street. He took a pose and watched as the owners of the footsteps came closer. Just as he thought, it was several soldiers.
Tron stepped out at just the right moment and threw his disks. He made sure they were at the angle where they would not completely derezz the members of the enemy army.
“Sam grab one of them,” Yori instructed. “Siphon their energy.”
“I’m not a vampire,” Sam said but grabbed onto one of the downed guard.
“You’re not feeding off him,” Quorra said. “You just need it to change the color of your armor.”
“I figured,” Sam said as his lights switched from white to orange-red. “I just don’t like the way it was phrased.”
“Channel it towards us,” Yori said. “The enemy may have figured out but we are still learning. We still need help from a User.”
“Okay,” Sam said. He grabbed Quorra until her lights changed color. He moved onto the next soldier and transferred the energy to Yori and then to Tron.
“Now adjust your helmets,” Tron said and allowed his to retract until only his mouth and chin were visible.
The four of them made their way to just beneath the ship where there were several steps leading down from the ship. They formed a short and neat row as they climbed up onto the ship.
The first thing they had to find was a sufficient map, or some part of the ship where they could read schematics of the ship. Tron was the first in every room and only when he was certain the place was empty, or if they could sneak through safely, he would give the go ahead to the others.
“Here,” Yori said when they reached one section of the ship. “I can find out where the central power is in here.”
Tron nodded. “I’ll watch this entrance, Sam watch the other. Quorra, watch over her.” He took his stand in front of the right entrance. While Yori read he collected his thoughts. He wondered what she had to tell him. It was important to her, but not too important that it can wait until they defeated Osiris.
Tron missed her. He was certain than even when he was Rinzler that he felt some spark that made him think of her. A part of him loved her. He was certain a part of him always will, but now things have happened. Flynn created his own Grid. Tron was drafted in to help and they found a way to create gates in the border that separated it from ENCOM and other systems in the area at the time. Then Clu’s betrayal surfaced. The border was closed until Tron was certain he could defeat the usurper and tyrant. Instead of defeating him, Tron was subdued and became Clu’s top enforcer.
Sam was the one who helped defeat Clu. Sam, Flynn and Quorra. Tron fought against them. He was forced to fight them, fight against those who he swore he protected and even when he remembered who he was and what his purpose was he still wasn’t able to defeat Clu.
Tron glanced back over his shoulder and watched Yori work. She was still as pretty as he remembered and still had such a lovely figure. He still felt something for her, but it wasn’t the same as he felt in the past. What had Clu done to him? He had also noticed that Yori did not seem as exited to see him as he had thought, unless he had too much expectation for their reunion.
“Got it,” Yori said and stepped back.
“Just in time,” Sam said. “Someone is coming.”
“Stand straight and tall,” Tron instructed as Yori came towards him. “We don’t want to appear too conspicuous.” He and Yori stood in front of one the entranceways while Sam and Quorra pretended to stand guard at the other entrance.
The one who entered the room set Tron’s teeth on edge. It wasn’t Osiris, but it was almost as bad. He would not mistake that ponytail anywhere, nor the hook shaped nose or scowl.
“Hmmm.” Regor paused in the middle of the room and rubbed his chin. “I wasn’t certain if I gave orders to have this sector under such tight security or not.” He turned back and looked at Tron and Yori. “Master did say he wanted all of the rooms protected.” He shrugged. “If it wasn’t me then it had to be him. Good job.” He continued on the way out.
“Wow,” Sam said once the coast was clear. “That guy does not have the brightest bulb.”
“We should thank our Users that he doesn’t,” Yori said. “The main power is on the second floor near the stern of the ship.”
They continued their way to the second floor of the ship and straight to the back, following Yori’s directions.
The room they wanted was guarded in the front by four guards. Tron attacked first, followed by the others. He was surprised to see how fast Yori was able to take out one of the guards. She certainly had changed in the past several megacycles.
“I wonder if anyone is at home,” Sam said as they entered the room. “Best to knock and say hello.”
There were several more of the Black Guard in the room. Their opponents did not seem to notice anything was off about them.
“Almost too easy,” Tron said as he quickly de-rezzed one of the guards on the inside.
The others pounced on them before first guard finished to dissolve.
Tron leaped in the air to avoid one of the disks, spun around in the air and slammed down on one of the guards. He noticed the baton the guard was holding. It was a light jet baton. Tron snatched it out of his hands before he derezzed him and looked up to fight more.
Quorra slashed her disk across the chest of the last one, causing him to fully de-rezz.
“I’m pretty sure more are on their way,” Sam said as he and Yori made way to the main power controls.
“We’ll hold them off,” Tron said as he and Quorra faced the front entrance
No guards came at first, so far, so good. Tron could hear both Yori and Sam working on the power. He knew they were working as fast as possible, but it didn’t seem fast enough as far as he was concerned.
“That should do it,” Sam said from behind.
“They are going to have trouble getting everything online without this component,” Yori added. What she had was the same size and shape as the container for her files. She clipped it to her left calf.
“Move out,” Tron ordered and lead them out into the hall—where there were several more guards standing. He growled and slashed at the one that was closest to him before he had time to react.
Another program tried to grab Tron from behind, but he was able to deflect the attack and strike the enemy. He grabbed another light jet baton from them. Tron dodged another attack and derezzed a third and then a fourth before handing the staff to Yori. He could see that Sam and Quorra had also snagged a lightjet batons of their own
“More are coming,” Yori said as she de-rezzed one of the guards.
“We’ll take care of them,” Quorra said as she slashed through another of the soldiers.
Tron sliced through two more before he rolled on the ground and de-rezzed another as he stood up. He could see the clear path to the nearest window. Using his disks he sliced through those opponents who stood between him and his friends and freedom.
“Going some where?” Regor asked from behind him.
Tron turned around and saw that the others were surrounded by several guards.
“Let them go,” Tron demanded. He was ready to throw his disk at Osiris’s minion.
“I just have to give the word and they will be derezzed.” Regor said as he raised his finger.
“What do you want?” Tron asked through clenched teeth.
“My boss wants you. Three of your friends in exchange for you is a bit of a fair trade, won’t you say?”
“Tron, don’t listen to him,” Yori said.
“You know he won’t hold his word,” Sam added. “He’s just using us to get to you.”
Tron stared at his friends, then at Regor, then at his friends again.
“Well?” Regor asked. “What will it be?”
Tron closed his eyes and exhaled. “Fine.” He dropped his disks.
“No,” Yori said. “What are you doing?”
“He’s doing the right thing,” Regor said and placed his hand on Tron’s shoulder, only removing it when he growled. “I understand.”
“Let me say good bye,” Tron said as he walked to his friends. There was one idea he had that would guarantee their safety. He stopped in front of Quorra first. “Take care of Sam, and I’m sorry.”
“He made you do it,” Quorra said softly.
“Sam, listen when your father talks to you. Tell Alan I will miss him and tell Janelle that I-“ He paused. What was he about to say? He couldn’t not in front of Yori. “Tell her that I am glad that we met and I will miss her. Hug her for me if she cries.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Sam said.
Tron ignored him and faced Yori. “You mean so much to me, more than I can express.”
“Tron,” Yori whispered. Tears were already rolling out of the corners of her eyes.
“Don’t cry.” He hugged her and swiped the holographic files from her right calf holster. He turned to face Regor. “Let them go.”
“Now why-“
“Let them go or I’ll break this,” Tron said and held up the files. “Yori took this from your power source. I believe it is important. I also believe your master will not be happy if it is destroyed, am I right?”
Fear spread across Regor’s face and left his jaw hanging open. “Release the others, but hold onto Tron.”
“We are not leaving you,” Yori said.
“Get out and run,” Tron commanded her.
“You cannot tell me to,” Yori said
“We have to go,” Quorra said and grabbed the wrists of both Sam and Yori.
“Not again,” Sam said as he was being dragged away.
Tron sadly watched them as they ran away.
-
“I have to go back for him,” Sam said as soon as his light jet had landed.
“I’ll be the one to go back,” Yori said as she handed Quorra a small glowing container. “You two go on ahead back to the outlands with this.”
“You can’t take them all on yourself,” Quorra said.
“She’s right,” Sam agreed. He was not going to let what happened to Tron, happen again. “Quorra, you take the component back, Yori and I will go back for him.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Quorra said.
“You are going to have to.”
“No.” Her jaw was clenched and there was a look of determination in her eyes.
“This is not helping Tron,” Yori said. “They are going to derezz him.”
“They are going to do something worse,” Sam said as he closed his eyes.
“What could be worse?” Yori asked.
“Rectifying him.”
“Tron would never allow them to turn him into a mere foot soldier for a tyrant.”
Sam just glanced at Yori and then at Quorra. The truth was going to hurt the female program. Tron hadn’t had the time to explain what had happened to him. His girlfriend never knew that he was turned into the powerful warrior enforcer known as Rinzler.
“We have to move,” Quorra said and pointed to the sky as seven soldiers were dropping in on them.
“This should be an easy fight,” Yori said. “Then one or two of us will go back for Tron. We should have never left him.”
“I agree,” Sam said and threw his disk at one of the guards.
One the other soldiers being dragged into an alleyway. The sound of deresoultion followed soon after.
“Tron?” Sam asked. He didn’t see the warrior land anywhere near where they were, but he it was a good possibility that he had escaped.
What stepped out of the alley wasn’t Tron. It stood at over eight feet tall and looked like it was made out of liquefied silver save for it’s head and hands. It’s face looked like that of a human’s out of a CGI animated movie with glossy brown stripes on the top of his head. It was not happy. It had clenched and bared it’s teeth in a snarl as it tore apart the guards. When it was done it turned to him.
“Thanks,” Sam said, unsure of what the big bruiser was going to do.
“More of you.” It’s voice sounded like several voices speaking at once. “You took me away from my friends. You took me to him where he hurt me.”
“Uh we are not them,” Sam said and made his helmet melt away. “See. I don’t look like them anymore.” This thing wasn’t stable, but Sam had to try and calm it.
“You wear their colors. You will suffer from harming us, from harming me. You tried to break me apart but I came back and I’m bigger now.”
“Sam.” Quorra grabbed his arm.
Sam didn’t have to be told twice. He turned around and ran as fast as he could while he pulled out the baton for his light cycle. He jumped in the air and it activated. The second his bike touched ground he gunned it.
-